ELIZABETHTOWN, PA: Senate Democratic Policy Committee Chair Nick Miller (D-14) hosted a policy hearing addressing rising costs for seniors, alongside Senator Malone. This hearing will examine the rising cost of living and the effect it is having on seniors across the commonwealth.
“We must continue advocating for Pennsylvania’s seniors who are struggling with rising costs and increasing financial pressures,” said Senator Miller. “This hearing highlighted the challenges many older adults face every day and the need for real solutions. I witnessed these challenges firsthand while volunteering with Meals on Wheels of Greater Lehigh Valley and meeting seniors who rely on these services. Our seniors deserve the opportunity to age with dignity, and we must continue working to improve their quality of life and ensure they receive the support they have earned.”
“The rising costs of essential goods and services has significantly impacted Pennsylvania’s senior population,” said Senator James Andrew Malone. “People who have worked their whole lives deserve to retire with dignity and without fear of depleting their resources prematurely. There are many seniors in my district. I want lawmakers to have a better understanding of the challenges they, and their service providers, face. I’m thankful that Senator Miller came to Elizabethtown to host this important discussion. I look forward to carrying these insights with me as we focus on lowering the cost of living for seniors in Lancaster and across the Commonwealth.”
The Pennsylvania Department of Aging, in its written testimony, noted that people across the country are feeling the impact of rising costs for housing, food, daily necessities, and health care. The department emphasized the need to support older adults’ ability to age where and how they choose through services such as home‑delivered and congregate meals, caregiver support, health and wellness programs, personal assistance, senior centers, Medicare counseling, transportation, job training, elder abuse prevention, and PACE prescription assistance.
Tara Zrinski, Northampton County Executive, testified that the challenge before us is only growing.
“Pennsylvania is one of the oldest states in the nation, and Northampton County is seeing the same shift,” said Zrinski. “Every year, more residents reach retirement age. More families are navigating caregiving, transportation, food insecurity, and long-term care. This is not temporary. It is a fundamental change in our population, and it demands a real response.”
Austin W. Cawley, Director, Legislative Affairs at LeadingAge PA spoke on the biggest cost pressures facing seniors, housing.
“If Pennsylvania is serious about meeting the growing demand for senior affordable housing, it must support innovative and financially sustainable models like this one,” said Cawley. “The Pennsylvania Housing Action Plan can help by promoting mixed-income, inclusive housing strategies, funding models that pair market-rate and affordable units and sharing best practices so providers can replicate successful approaches. With that support, Pennsylvania can bring senior housing online faster and at a lower cost while preserving strong community-based outcomes.”
Feleen Nancarvis, Executive Director of Meals on Wheels of Lancaster testified on senior services that have been flat-funded repeatedly for years.
“I’ll say that our seniors are facing impossible challenges,” said Nancarvis. “So, too, are the individuals and the systems that support them. Meals on Wheels is a service that provides relief to individual community members, their families, and their caregivers alike. We also provide a vital public-private partnership. As Josh Protas of Meals on Wheels America states, investing in senior nutrition services is simply “smart fiscal policy.” Meals on Wheels keeps vulnerable community members out of emergency rooms and alleviates the financial burden on the state’s healthcare system.”
Hailey Spangler, Program, Director of ECHOS Lancaster testified on their organization’s mission to empower families and individuals experiencing housing instability and insufficient income in the Northwest Region of Lancaster County.
“The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reports that older adults are the fastest growing age group of those experiencing homelessness,” said Spangler. “Composing nearly half of the population and their numbers are estimated to grow and triple by 2030.”
In its written testimony, AARP Pennsylvania noted that as the state’s population grows older, rising costs for essentials such as food, housing, health care, and transportation are placing increasing strain on household budgets. The organization stressed that lawmakers cannot balance the budget or protect families without addressing escalating human services expenses and recommended that the Committee conduct audits of CHC MCO providers to ensure quality and curb cost‑driving practices that do not improve care.
Testifiers for the hearing included:
- Pennsylvania Department of Aging
- Office of the Northampton County Executive
- ECHOS Lancaster
- LeadingAge PA
- Meals on Wheels
Senator Nick Miller was elected Policy Chair of the Senate Democratic Caucus in December 2024.
Footage of the hearing, as well as the written testimony of the panel, is available at PASenatorMiller.com/Policy. Photographs and downloadable videos are available upon request.
Learn more about the PA Senate Democrats commitment to protecting our commonwealth’s healthcare needs and other legislative priorities at www.pasenate.com.
Testimonies
- The Hon. Tara Zrinski, Northampton County Executive (virtual)
- Hailey Spangler, Program, Director, ECHOS Lancaster
- Austin W. Cawley, Director, Legislative Affairs, LeadingAge PA
- Feleen Nancarvis, Executive Director, Meals on Wheels of Lancaster
- Pennsylvania Department of Aging