On May 21, City Council’s Committee on Transportation and Public Utilities held a hearing on Resolution No. 250109, concerning potential locations of new intercity bus terminals in Philadelphia.  Helena Gallant, Transportation Advocate, provided testimony on behalf of CARIE.  The testimony reflects CARIE’s support of a permanent intercity bus terminal to be constructed in a convenient location that meets the following criteria: meets ADA accessibility standards, provides adequate shelter, has sufficient numbers of public bathrooms including ADA compliant bathrooms, provides a waiting area with seating, is close to SEPTA and other transit connections, has ample lighting, and is accessible and safe for all riders, especially those that use wheelchairs, walkers, canes and other mobility devices or riders who are blind or have other sensory impairments.  The hearing can be viewed here. 

On February 18, 2025, CARIE was one of 11 community-based nonprofit organizations to receive a Violence Prevention Grant Award from the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office and the Philadelphia Foundation. We are deeply grateful to the District Attorney and the Philadelphia Foundation for this significant support of CARIE’s victim advocacy. CARIE will use the grant funds to expand our outreach and services to address domestic violence impacting older adults. 

On October 29, Pennsylvania’s House Majority Policy Committee convened a field hearing in Avoca, PA entitled – “Boosting State Support of Seniors.”  Reps. Jim Haddock (D-Lackawanna, Luzerne) and Eddie Day Pashinski (D-Luzerne) were the hosts.  Several other committee members were also in attendance, including the current Chairperson of the House Aging & Older Adult Services Committee, Rep. Maureen Madden (D-Monroe).

David Johnson, CARIE LINE Manager, provided testimony on behalf of CARIE that describes issues CARIE hears about when talking with our clients and makes various recommendations on how to support older Pennsylvanians.  The testimony highlights the importance of programs and services funded by the Pennsylvania Lottery and the need to adequately fund home and community-based services along with expanding the eligibility of the PACE pharmaceutical benefit program so more older Pennsylvanians can access affordable medication.  These programs have demonstrated significant impact on helping older adults make ends meet as well as helping to avoid or delay more costly Medicaid funded long term services and supports.  CARIE’s testimony also makes recommendations to increase the Personal Needs Allowance for people living in nursing homes who rely upon Medicaid as well as people living on SSI in personal care homes so they may live a dignified life. 

The testimony reflects CARIE’s support in advancing the actionable ideas in Pennsylvania’s multisector ten-year plan, Aging Our Way, PA and for “Keystone Saves” legislation so Pennsylvania can join other states that allow businesses without an employer-provided retirement plan to offer a no-cost, voluntary retirement benefit for their workers.  Finally, CARIE expressed gratitude to the legislature and Governor Shapiro for appropriating $1.9 million to create an Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias Office in the Department of Aging and passing bipartisan legislation that also requires the Department to hire a full-time dementia director.  These actions will go a long way in helping Pennsylvanians living with dementia and their caregivers, and helping Pennsylvania become a dementia capable state.

In addition to David, the following also testified at the hearing: Jason Kavulich, the Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Aging; Mary Schell, Deputy Director of the Area Agency on Aging for Luzerne and Wyoming Counties; and Teresa Osborne, State Advocacy Director for AARP Pennsylvania. The hearing can be viewed here and submitted testimony can be viewed here. 

CARIE is honored to receive a General Operating Support Grant from The Sarah Ralston Foundation in the Foundation’s inaugural grant cycle. We are deeply grateful to the Foundation for its significant support of CARIE’s work to ensure that all Philadelphia elders are able to live with dignity, well-being and quality of life.

The Sarah Ralston Foundation supports and enhances the quality of life of vulnerable and underserved older adults residing in Philadelphia County. Born from the Ralston Center, an organization with a long history, The Sarah Ralston Foundation seeks to continue that impact by using its resources to give grants and to serve as a community partner to organizations serving older adults in Philadelphia.

PETER FITZPATRICK TO RECEIVE 2023 JACQUELINE R. JEFFERSON OUTSTANDING VOLUNTEER AWARD AT BE THE VOICE! ON MAY 24TH

As a volunteer in CARIE’s SMP health care fraud and abuse prevention program, Peter is passionate about improving the well-being of older adults within Venango and the surrounding northwestPennsylvania counties. A tenacious advocate, Peter is also a trustworthy source of information for Medicare fraud prevention, tax preparation, health insurance counseling, and connecting community leaders more closely to the causes they work toward advancing. 

As a representative on every SMP Advisory Council session since its inception in 2019, Peter’s expertise and passion have resulted in the creation of the PA-SMP Personal Health Care Journals, expanded partnerships in rural communities, aligning of messaging for particular audiences, coordinating the SMP message with that of PA-MEDI, recruiting and networking for the SMP, and advising on Medicare education best practices.

One of the most significant factors of working with Peter is his calm and respectful demeanor that makes him extremely approachable. When combined with his extensive knowledge of Medicare, community resources, hospice, Community Health Choices, and other related elements, Peter is the hallmark of connecting case to cause, a model replicated elsewhere throughout CARIE.

CARIE is grateful to Peter for his exemplary service and pleased to honor him with the 2023 Jacqueline R. Jefferson Outstanding Volunteer Award. 

In 2022 CARIE’s Board established the Jacqueline R. Jefferson Outstanding Volunteer Award to honor Mrs. Jefferson for the many ways over many years she has contributed to CARIE. For over two decades, Mrs. Jefferson’s tireless commitment to CARIE as a volunteer in the Pennsylvania SMP has helped this statewide initiative become a model for the national SMP community. With genuine concern for her peers and a special ability to engage her audiences, Mrs. Jefferson has helped thousands of Pennsylvania  Medicare beneficiaries protect themselves from fraud and abusive scams.