Secretary Osborne Appointed to Advisory Council on Elder Justice in the Courts

HARRISBURG, Pa., July 9, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Secretary of Aging Teresa Osborne will join the Pennsylvania Supreme Court's Advisory Council on Elder Justice in the Courts, which is dedicated to helping older Pennsylvanians interact with their court system in cases involving elder abuse, neglect, guardianship, conservatorship and other matters.

The council was created in November 2014 – along with the Office of Elder Justice in the Courts that it advises – when the Elder Law Task Force issued a detailed report offering 130 specific recommendations for handling legal issues facing Pennsylvania seniors. Supreme Court Justice Debra Todd chaired the task force and has now appointed Secretary Osborne to the council.

"As Pennsylvania's population ages, it's imperative that our courts work hand-in-hand with the executive branch of government to improve the lives of Pennsylvania's elders," said Justice Todd. "I thank Secretary Osborne for her willingness to serve and look forward to her support in meeting our shared goal."

Teresa Osborne was appointed by Governor Wolf and, in May, confirmed as Pennsylvania's Secretary of Aging by a unanimous vote of the senate. As head of the state unit on aging, Osborne spearheads the governor's initiatives for older Pennsylvanians.

"One of Gov. Tom Wolf's highest priorities is to ensure the protection of Pennsylvania's most vulnerable residents," said Osborne. "The Supreme Court has laid out a comprehensive blueprint to tackle the challenges associated with an increasing number of an over-60 population that is expected to grow to 1 in 4 Pennsylvanians within the next five years. I am privileged to participate in this important endeavor."

A native of Scranton, Osborne served as executive director of the Luzerne/Wyoming Counties Area Agency on Aging. She previously served as chancellor and chief operating officer of the Diocese of Scranton, and prior to that was executive director of the Lackawanna County Department of Human Services and the Lackawanna County Area Agency on Aging.

The Pennsylvania Department of Aging was established by the General Assembly in June 1978 to advance the well-being of Pennsylvania's older citizens, to affect coordination in the administration of federal and state aging programs, and to promote the creation and growth of organizations designed to maximize independence and involvement of older Pennsylvanians.

Visit aging.pa.gov for more information on the Department of Aging.

MEDIA CONTACT: Kirstin Snow: (717) 783-1550 or [email protected]

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Aging

Related Links

http://www.state.pa.us