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September 23, 2026 - Harrisburg, PA

Auditor General DeFoor Says Audit Finds Weakness in PDA's Oversight

Auditor General Timothy L. DeFoor today released a performance audit of the Pennsylvania Department of Aging (PDA), finding weaknesses in how it monitors elder abuse investigations performed by the Commonwealth's 52 Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) and how it trains front-line staff.

"Older Pennsylvanians are falling through the cracks of a system that is designed to protect them," Auditor General DeFoor said. "Older Pennsylvanians should be our priority. We are not hitting the mark. We need to do better and we can do better; I think everyone can agree on that."

The purpose of the audit was to determine if PDA properly monitored AAA investigations of elder abuse and mistreatment and to ensure AAA protective services staff met the minimum training requirements under the law and regulations. PDA uses its Comprehensive Aging Performance Evaluation (CAPE) monitoring system to streamline oversight of AAA's investigations and assess compliance. CAPE, which replaces the previous Legacy Monitoring System, was piloted by PDA in 2024 and fully implemented in 2025.

Speaker List:
Auditor General Tim DeFoor
Gordon Denlinger - Deputy Auditor General for Audits



Pennsylvania Auditor General Timothy L. DeFoor speaks during a news conference at the Pennsylvania Capitol in Harrisburg, Pa., on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026, announcing the findings of a performance audit of the Pennsylvania Department of Aging. The audit examined the departments oversight of elder abuse investigations conducted by Area Agencies on Aging.<br><a href="https://media.pacast.com/photo/29995_audGen_audit_nk_001.JPG" target="_blank">⇣ Download Photo</a> Pennsylvania Auditor General Timothy L. DeFoor speaks during a news conference at the Pennsylvania Capitol in Harrisburg, Pa., on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026, announcing the findings of a performance audit of the Pennsylvania Department of Aging. The audit examined the departments oversight of elder abuse investigations conducted by Area Agencies on Aging.<br><a href="https://media.pacast.com/photo/29995_audGen_audit_nk_002.JPG" target="_blank">⇣ Download Photo</a> A news conference was held at the Pennsylvania Capitol in Harrisburg, Pa., on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026, announcing the findings of a performance audit of the Pennsylvania Department of Aging. The audit examined the departments oversight of elder abuse investigations conducted by Area Agencies on Aging.<br><a href="https://media.pacast.com/photo/29995_audGen_audit_nk_003.JPG" target="_blank">⇣ Download Photo</a> Pennsylvania Auditor General Timothy L. DeFoor speaks during a news conference at the Pennsylvania Capitol in Harrisburg, Pa., on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026, announcing the findings of a performance audit of the Pennsylvania Department of Aging. The audit examined the departments oversight of elder abuse investigations conducted by Area Agencies on Aging.<br><a href="https://media.pacast.com/photo/29995_audGen_audit_nk_004.JPG" target="_blank">⇣ Download Photo</a> Gordon Denlinger, deputy auditor general for audits with the Pennsylvania Department of the Auditor General, speaks during a news conference at the Pennsylvania Capitol in Harrisburg, Pa., on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026. The event highlighted findings from a performance audit examining the Pennsylvania Department of Agings oversight of elder abuse investigations conducted by Area Agencies on Aging.<br><a href="https://media.pacast.com/photo/29995_audGen_audit_nk_005.JPG" target="_blank">⇣ Download Photo</a> Pennsylvania Auditor General Timothy L. DeFoor speaks during a news conference at the Pennsylvania Capitol in Harrisburg, Pa., on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026, announcing the findings of a performance audit of the Pennsylvania Department of Aging. The audit examined the departments oversight of elder abuse investigations conducted by Area Agencies on Aging.<br><a href="https://media.pacast.com/photo/29995_audGen_audit_nk_006.JPG" target="_blank">⇣ Download Photo</a> Gordon Denlinger, deputy auditor general for audits with the Pennsylvania Department of the Auditor General, speaks during a news conference at the Pennsylvania Capitol in Harrisburg, Pa., on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026. The event highlighted findings from a performance audit examining the Pennsylvania Department of Agings oversight of elder abuse investigations conducted by Area Agencies on Aging.<br><a href="https://media.pacast.com/photo/29995_audGen_audit_nk_007.JPG" target="_blank">⇣ Download Photo</a> Pennsylvania Auditor General Timothy L. DeFoor speaks during a news conference at the Pennsylvania Capitol in Harrisburg, Pa., on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026, announcing the findings of a performance audit of the Pennsylvania Department of Aging. The audit examined the departments oversight of elder abuse investigations conducted by Area Agencies on Aging.<br><a href="https://media.pacast.com/photo/29995_audGen_audit_nk_008.JPG" target="_blank">⇣ Download Photo</a> Pennsylvania Auditor General Timothy L. DeFoor speaks during a news conference at the Pennsylvania Capitol in Harrisburg, Pa., on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026, announcing the findings of a performance audit of the Pennsylvania Department of Aging. The audit examined the departments oversight of elder abuse investigations conducted by Area Agencies on Aging.<br><a href="https://media.pacast.com/photo/29995_audGen_audit_nk_009.JPG" target="_blank">⇣ Download Photo</a> Pennsylvania Auditor General Timothy L. DeFoor speaks during a news conference at the Pennsylvania Capitol in Harrisburg, Pa., on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026, announcing the findings of a performance audit of the Pennsylvania Department of Aging. The audit examined the departments oversight of elder abuse investigations conducted by Area Agencies on Aging.<br><a href="https://media.pacast.com/photo/29995_audGen_audit_nk_010.JPG" target="_blank">⇣ Download Photo</a> A news conference was held at the Pennsylvania Capitol in Harrisburg, Pa., on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026, announcing the findings of a performance audit of the Pennsylvania Department of Aging. The audit examined the departments oversight of elder abuse investigations conducted by Area Agencies on Aging.<br><a href="https://media.pacast.com/photo/29995_audGen_audit_nk_011.JPG" target="_blank">⇣ Download Photo</a> Pennsylvania Auditor General Timothy L. DeFoor speaks during a news conference at the Pennsylvania Capitol in Harrisburg, Pa., on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026, announcing the findings of a performance audit of the Pennsylvania Department of Aging. The audit examined the departments oversight of elder abuse investigations conducted by Area Agencies on Aging.<br><a href="https://media.pacast.com/photo/29995_audGen_audit_nk_012.JPG" target="_blank">⇣ Download Photo</a> Gordon Denlinger, deputy auditor general for audits with the Pennsylvania Department of the Auditor General, speaks during a news conference at the Pennsylvania Capitol in Harrisburg, Pa., on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026. The event highlighted findings from a performance audit examining the Pennsylvania Department of Agings oversight of elder abuse investigations conducted by Area Agencies on Aging.<br><a href="https://media.pacast.com/photo/29995_audGen_audit_nk_013.JPG" target="_blank">⇣ Download Photo</a> Pennsylvania Auditor General Timothy L. DeFoor speaks during a news conference at the Pennsylvania Capitol in Harrisburg, Pa., on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026, announcing the findings of a performance audit of the Pennsylvania Department of Aging. The audit examined the departments oversight of elder abuse investigations conducted by Area Agencies on Aging.<br><a href="https://media.pacast.com/photo/29995_audGen_audit_nk_014.JPG" target="_blank">⇣ Download Photo</a> Pennsylvania Auditor General Timothy L. DeFoor speaks during a news conference at the Pennsylvania Capitol in Harrisburg, Pa., on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026, announcing the findings of a performance audit of the Pennsylvania Department of Aging. The audit examined the departments oversight of elder abuse investigations conducted by Area Agencies on Aging.<br><a href="https://media.pacast.com/photo/29995_audGen_audit_nk_015.JPG" target="_blank">⇣ Download Photo</a> Gordon Denlinger, deputy auditor general for audits with the Pennsylvania Department of the Auditor General, speaks during a news conference at the Pennsylvania Capitol in Harrisburg, Pa., on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026. The event highlighted findings from a performance audit examining the Pennsylvania Department of Agings oversight of elder abuse investigations conducted by Area Agencies on Aging.<br><a href="https://media.pacast.com/photo/29995_audGen_audit_nk_016.JPG" target="_blank">⇣ Download Photo</a> Gordon Denlinger, deputy auditor general for audits with the Pennsylvania Department of the Auditor General, speaks during a news conference at the Pennsylvania Capitol in Harrisburg, Pa., on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026. The event highlighted findings from a performance audit examining the Pennsylvania Department of Agings oversight of elder abuse investigations conducted by Area Agencies on Aging.<br><a href="https://media.pacast.com/photo/29995_audGen_audit_nk_017.JPG" target="_blank">⇣ Download Photo</a> Gordon Denlinger, deputy auditor general for audits with the Pennsylvania Department of the Auditor General, speaks during a news conference at the Pennsylvania Capitol in Harrisburg, Pa., on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026. The event highlighted findings from a performance audit examining the Pennsylvania Department of Agings oversight of elder abuse investigations conducted by Area Agencies on Aging.<br><a href="https://media.pacast.com/photo/29995_audGen_audit_nk_018.JPG" target="_blank">⇣ Download Photo</a> Gordon Denlinger, deputy auditor general for audits with the Pennsylvania Department of the Auditor General, speaks during a news conference at the Pennsylvania Capitol in Harrisburg, Pa., on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026. The event highlighted findings from a performance audit examining the Pennsylvania Department of Agings oversight of elder abuse investigations conducted by Area Agencies on Aging.<br><a href="https://media.pacast.com/photo/29995_audGen_audit_nk_019.JPG" target="_blank">⇣ Download Photo</a>