Frequently Asked Questions

You can explore our website for information on the different programs available through PCA. The programs are broken down into four categories: Community and Connection, Help in the Home, Protection and Advocacy, and Caregiver Support. For more information on the type of help that may be available to you or a loved one, call the PCA Helpline at 215-765-9040.

There are 28 PCA-supported senior community centers and satellite meal sites throughout Philadelphia. These centers are open to all older adults, no matter where they live in the city. Some centers may ask for a small donation for those receiving meals. Most centers are currently offering remote programming due to the COVID-19 pandemic. To find the center nearest you, click here.

Healthcare professionals can make a referral to PCA by calling the PCA Helpline, or by clicking here.

While eligibility requirements differ slightly from program to program, most services are available to Philadelphians age 60+. To inquire about a specific program, call the PCA Helpline at 215-765-9040.

While there are income requirements for some PCA programs, help is available to older Philadelphians of all income levels. To inquire about help that may be available to you or a loved one, call the PCA Helpline at 215-765-9040.

For assistance outside of Philadelphia, contact your local Area Agency on Aging (AAA). You can find your local AAA by clicking here.

PCA works with several organizations locally and nationally to support the needs of older adults. To find additional resources outside of PCA, click on the following links: Community and Connection Resources, Help in the Home Resources, Protection and Advocacy Resources, Caregiver Support Resources.

Yes. PCA brokers shared rides through SEPTA’s CCT Connect program for older Philadelphians aged 65+. Additionally, there is an ADA Paratransit Program for those with disabilities unable to use SEPTA’s regular, accessible, fixed-route bus service. More information on eligibility and scheduling can be accessed by clicking here.

PCA provides meals to older Philadelphians through our home-delivered meals program and through congregate meals at senior centers. During the COVID-19 pandemic, grab and go meals for older adults are available at 22 distribution sites throughout the city. To find the nearest grab and go meal site, click here.

Most PCA programs and services have been modified to operate in a remote capacity due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Remote programming is available through many PCA-supported senior centers, even as they remain closed to the public. In addition, grab and go meals for older adults are available at 22 distribution sites throughout the city. To find the nearest grab and go meal site, click here.

To inquire about additional PCA programs and services, contact PCA’s Helpline at 215-765-9040.

Yes. PCA conducts home repairs and modifications to make homes safer and more accessible for older Philadelphians and those with disabilities. Many of these repairs are made free of charge through our Senior Housing Assistance Repair Program (SHARP). To learn more, click here.

If you suspect an emergency, please call 911. To report a suspected case of elder abuse or self-neglect, please call 215-765-9040 and select Option 1. Reports can be made anonymously 24/7, 365 days a year.

Yes. Older adults may receive one-time financial assistance through PCA’s Emergency Fund for Older Philadelphians to meet their basic needs when all other options have been exhausted. This assistance can accommodate payments for anything from food to medicines to heating oil. To receive assistance, eligible older adults must be referred by recognized social service agencies or a member of the clergy. For more information, click here.

PCA is the designated Area Agency on Aging (AAA) for Philadelphia county and is one of the largest AAAs in the country. Enacted through the Older Americans Act of 1965, AAAs like PCA were created to promote and support the needs of local older adult populations throughout the United States. PCA’s main offices are located in Philadelphia’s historic Wallace Building at 642 N. Broad Street.

If you or a loved one are experiencing an emergency, call 911. If there is a need for immediate financial assistance, help may be available through PCA’s Emergency Fund for Older Philadelphians. More information about the Emergency Fund can be found by clicking here.

Additional questions can be directed to PCA’s Helpline at 215-765-9040.