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Articles by PCA President
How to have a healthy new year: Set goals and a vision for your life
News By Najja R. Orr, DBA, FCPP, PCA President & CEO As we move into a new year, let’s reflect and set intentions for the life we’d like to create. January helps us to remember that every day matters. The new year is a time to care for ourselves. It’s also the perfect time to set goals that give us joy and meaning. This is the time to start investing in yourself – your health, your relationships and everything that gives life meaning. Small steps matter.
PCA 2.0: Make Your Voices Heard
News By Najja R. Orr, DBA, FCPP, PCA President & CEO Good health is the key to living and aging well. At PCA, we know it’s about having the right information, resources and support to stay active, independent and engaged at every stage of life. That’s why the October 2025 issue of Milestones focuses on health. You’ll find stories that speak to the diverse health needs of older adults. We cover mental health challenges, which affect many people but often go unnoticed.
PCA 2.0: Our Next 50 Years
News By Najja R. Orr, DBA, FCPP, PCA President & CEO PCA grounds our work in connection. Linking older adults to the resources, support and community they need to thrive is always on our minds. As we step into our next chapter, PCA 2.0, we are taking purposeful steps to evolve how we serve Philadelphia’s aging population and meet the growing complexity of their needs. The past five decades have shaped PCA into a trusted leader and community partner. Our foundation is strong.
Proposed cuts to aging programs at federal level cause concern
News By Najja R. Orr, DBA, FCPP, PCA President & CEO Last month, we told you about the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) restructuring. This change caused the Administration for Community Living (ACL) to be broken apart. ACL is the federal agency at HHS that administers the Older Americans Act (OAA). Various aging services programs under ACL would be split up and moved to other HHS agencies. Since then, a draft copy of the President’s fiscal year 2026 budget for HHS was leaked.
Ensuring support for older adults
News By Najja R. Orr, DBA, FCPP, PCA President & CEO You may have heard that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently shared a major change. It plans to reorganize its structure, which includes breaking apart the Administration for Community Living (ACL) and moving its programs to other HHS agencies. This is still a developing situation, and things may change quickly. We want to keep you informed because this may affect services that help older adults.
Older Philadelphians deserve the best – and PCA delivers - Philadelphia Corporation For Aging
News By Najja R. Orr, DBA, FCPP, PCA President & CEO When the social worker at Mann Older Adult Center learned that Ms. P. didn’t have enough money for winter clothing, she was referred to Philadelphia Corporation for Aging’s (PCA’s) Emergency Fund and received $100 for winter shoes and warm clothing. “I’m very appreciative for the assistance given to me by PCA,” said Ms. P.
Ensuring self-determination for older adults
News By Najja R. Orr, DBA, FCPP, PCA President & CEO When the social worker at Mann Older Adult Center learned that Ms. P. didn’t have enough money for winter clothing, she was referred to Philadelphia Corporation for Aging’s (PCA’s) Emergency Fund and received $100 for winter shoes and warm clothing. “I’m very appreciative for the assistance given to me by PCA,” said Ms. P.
Food connects us
News By Najja R. Orr, DBA, FCPP, PCA President & CEO From an early age, many of us can remember enjoying Sunday dinners and holiday feasts with our grandparents. The commonality of eating shared foods connects us to culture, family and friends, just as much as it nourishes our bodies. By sharing a meal, eating becomes an experience. There is an opportunity for discussion and learning – about cooking, the ingredients, tastes, and associated cultures or traditions.
Black History Month: Honoring the past, inspiring the future
News By Najja R. Orr, DBA, FCPP, PCA President & CEO In the heart of Philadelphia, where murals tell the stories of our heroes, one image stands out: a depiction of Harriet Tubman leading others to freedom with courage etched on her face. This city is alive with such stories — of resilience, innovation and community. During Black History Month, we celebrate these stories, the legacy of those who came before us and the vibrant cultures that continue to shape our world.
Happy holiday season from PCA
News By Najja R. Orr, DBA, FCPP, PCA President & CEO The holiday season is here — and while it’s a joyful time for many, it could also be a time for reflection for others. I hope you take some time this month to enjoy the array of festivities that our city has to offer – from light displays and window decorations to holiday markets and live entertainment. While you are enjoying the sights and sounds of the season, please think of those who could benefit from additional emotional or other support.
Caregiving is a team effort
News By Najja R. Orr, DBA, FCPP, PCA President & CEO The number of Americans providing unpaid care for a loved one has increased by 21% over the past five years, according to the National Alliance for Caregiving.
Help yourself to health: Be your own advocate
News By Najja R. Orr, DBA, FCPP, PCA President & CEO People of all ages should take an active role in looking after their own health. PCA helps older adults take control of their health and well-being. PCA has many programs to support different areas of one’s life that support health, including information and resources to improve finances, education, health care, neighborhoods and community connections. These areas affect quality of life.
Discover your senior center this September
News By Najja R. Orr, DBA, FCPP, PCA President & CEO Celebrated every September, National Senior Center Month highlights the essential role senior community centers play in the health and well-being of older adults. PCA supports 28 senior community centers and satellite meal sites located in neighborhoods throughout Philadelphia. Senior centers offer unique programming that promotes socialization and a healthy lifestyle through education, recreation, fitness activities and meals.
PCA is planning for the future of aging
News By Najja R. Orr, DBA, FCPP, PCA President & CEO At Philadelphia Corporation for Aging (PCA), we help older adults stay connected to the community and remain safely in their homes. We are steadfast about protecting older adults, advocating for their rights and benefits, and serving people with the greatest social and economic needs.
Stay safe and enjoy the summer
News By Najja R. Orr, DBA, FCPP, PCA President & CEO Summer is a great time to explore the outdoors and to take advantage of all that our wonderful city has to offer! Philadelphia’s robust urban park system encompasses 10,200 acres of public land and waterways, as well as hundreds of recreation, environmental and cultural centers, according to Philadelphia Parks and Recreation.
Protecting vulnerable older adults from risk
News By Najja R. Orr, DBA, FCPP, PCA President and CEO One of the greatest responsibilities we have as a society is to protect our most vulnerable citizens. As individuals, we also have the duty to respect and honor our elders. To achieve both goals, we must do all that we can to prevent and stop the abuse or mistreatment of older adults. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 1 in 6 people aged 60 or older has experienced some form of abuse in community settings during the past year.
Celebrate Older Americans Month: Powered by connection
News By Najja R. Orr, MBA, DBA, PCA President & CEO Every May since 1963, our nation has celebrated Older Americans Month as a time to recognize the significant contributions of older adults, highlight aging trends and reaffirm commitments to serving the older adult community.
The value of volunteerism
News By Najja R. Orr, MBA, DBA, PCA President & CEO The rate of formal volunteering through organizations dropped 7% during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to research conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau. But civic engagement activities – both formal and informal – have bounced back since 2021! AmeriCorps, the federal agency for national service and volunteerism, estimates that more than 23% of American adults (nearly 61 million people) formally volunteer with organizations each year.
Good nutrition is the foundation of wellness
News By Najja R. Orr, MBA, DBA, PCA President & CEO North Philadelphia resident Nellie Harris raised a family and cooked delicious meals from scratch. Now, 101, Ms. Harris has limited mobility and receives home-delivered meals from Philadelphia Corporation for Aging (PCA). When it comes to healthy aging, good nutrition is vital. The old saying is especially true: You are what you eat! The importance of maintaining a healthy, balanced diet as you age cannot be understated.
Celebrate Black history year-round
News By Najja R. Orr, MBA, DBA, PCA President & CEO Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. would be 95 this year, if he were still alive. In honor of the great civil rights champion, we should continue to discuss his legacy and its impact on the world. One of the best ways that we can continue the great work of Dr. King is to educate others about Black history in America and to advocate for equality in all ways of life.
Here’s to a new year filled with wellness!
News By Najja R. Orr, MBA, DBA, PCA President & CEO As you welcome 2024, January provides a great opportunity to set goals for the year. Think about what you would like to accomplish or improve in your life. The experts say that thinking about it is one thing; write it down and commit to it to really set the course for change.
PCA 2.0 by 2033: Strategic planning leads the way
News By Najja R. Orr, MBA, DBA, PCA President & CEO On Dec. 3, 2023, PCA will mark its 50th anniversary. That’s five incredible decades of providing much-needed support to older Philadelphians and people living with disabilities.
Ageism awareness: Changing negative stereotypes
News By Najja R. Orr, MBA, DBA, PCA President & CEO Ageism – how we think, feel and act – toward others based upon age is often fraught with prejudice or discrimination toward older people. The World Health Organization has deemed ageism as one of the most widespread and socially accepted forms of prejudice. Our society often portrays young people as active, vibrant and intelligent while older people are often shown as slow, forgetful and weak.
PCA Helpline and Benefits Data Trust provide one-stop resources for older Philadelphians
News By Najja R. Orr, MBA, DBA, PCA President & CEO More than $80 billion in food, financial aid, health care and other assistance goes unclaimed each year in America, according to Benefit Data Trust (BDT). Given the high rate of poverty among Philadelphia’s older adult population, Philadelphia Corporation for Aging (PCA) sought a way to connect those in need with these massive, untapped resources.
Your input is needed for PA’s Master Plan for Older Adults
News By Najja R. Orr, MBA, DBA, PCA President & CEO As the largest Area Agency on Aging (AAA) in Pennsylvania, PCA) serves all older adults living in Philadelphia County. To meet increasing needs over the past 50 years, we now provide more than 30 different person-centered programs and services and touch the lives of more than 140,000 older adults and people living with disabilities annually.
Enjoy summer in the city
News By Najja R. Orr, MBA, DBA, PCA President & CEO Summer is a great time to take advantage of all that our wonderful city has to offer! Philadelphia is full of activities, events and amenities to suit any interest or hobby. Whether you are a nature lover, history buff, sports fan, arts and culture enthusiast, foodie, or shopper, you’ll find opportunities for enjoyment in every neighborhood. Did you know?
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