[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 147 (Thursday, October 15, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2202]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  COMMEMORATING PHILADELPHIA CORPORATION FOR AGING'S 25TH ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ROBERT A. BORSKI

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 15, 1998

  Mr. BORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the 
Philadelphia Corporation for Aging as it marks its 25th anniversary of 
making quality of life a reality for senior citizens in Philadelphia.
  The Philadelphia Corporation for Aging (PCA) is the largest of the 
Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) in Pennsylvania, employing over 400 
people. It has the distinction of being the fourth largest AAA in the 
country. Funded in part through the Pennsylvania Department of Aging 
and the federal Older Americans Act, PCA serves over 70,000 older 
Philadelphians each year through an umbrella of services designed to 
recognize the dignity of all older people while it respects their 
racial, religious, sexual and cultural differences.
  From the onset, PCA's mission has been to improve the quality of life 
for older and disabled Philadephians. It assists these individuals in 
achieving maximum levels of health, independence and productivity. Now, 
25 years later, PCA can take pride in knowing it successfully meets its 
goals of addressing the changing needs of the community it serves. 
Whether it is its successful Senior Helpline, an extensive telephone 
information and referral service, or its Language Line, which addresses 
the language barriers of the many ethnic groups that make up a major 
city, PCA is always striving to do all it can for its unique clientele. 
In the summer, the successful Heatline is activated, sending volunteers 
to address heat stress issues with seniors, ensuring their health and 
safety.
  In addition to these services, PCA operates approximately 50 multi-
purpose senior community centers and satellite meal sites throughout 
the city, providing counseling, education, health promotion, a healthy 
meal and social interaction with those individuals over 60 years of 
age. PCA also offers transportation assistance, legal services, 
employment programs, companion programs and long-term care access to 
help our older citizens cope with many of the specific needs of the 
aging community.
  Mr. Speaker, Pennsylvania is the second ``grayist'' state in the 
country and over 19 percent of Philadelphia's population is over 60 
years of age. In my district alone, over 100,000 people are over age 
65, making the Third Congressional District the 20th largest senior 
population in the country. As a result of serving such a large senior 
citizen constituency, I have the opportunity to see and hear the 
specific needs of our older residents and I see firsthand what an 
organization like PCA does to improve the quality of life for those 
over age 60.
  As medical advances enable people to live longer lives we, as a 
society, must be better able to handle the medical, housing, and social 
challenges experienced by our aging community. PCA is one of the key 
agencies working to help individuals and their families cope with those 
challenges and, as a result, serves as a vital link to our aging 
population.
  Mr. Speaker, I would also like to pay tribute to PCA's President, 
Rodney D. Williams, for his 25 years of leadership and service 
excellence. Under his leadership, PCA has proudly improved the quality 
of life for all older people in Philadelphia. I ask my colleagues to 
join with me in recognizing the valuable work performed by PCA and its 
staff and wish them many more years of success.

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