PA Link Aging and Disability Resources: Pennsylvania's Single Entry Point for Elder Care

What PA Link Actually Does

PA Link to Aging and Disability Resources is Pennsylvania's single-entry-point system for connecting older adults, people with disabilities, and their families to publicly funded services. The toll-free number — 1-800-753-8827 — routes callers to their local Area Agency on Aging or Center for Independent Living based on their county of residence.

This is not an information hotline. PA Link staff perform intake assessments, determine preliminary eligibility for state programs, and initiate referrals directly. A single call can trigger:

• An OPTIONS program application (state-funded home care for seniors age 60+ who exceed Medicaid financial limits)
• A referral to the Independent Enrollment Broker for Community HealthChoices assessment
• Connection to the Caregiver Support Program for respite care reimbursement
• A home safety evaluation through the local Area Agency on Aging
• Referral to adult protective services if the caller reports suspected abuse or neglect

For families managing a parent's dementia care, PA Link is the starting point before you hire anyone, tour any facility, or spend any money. The staff can tell you which programs your parent may qualify for based on age, income, and care needs — and which office handles each application.

The ADRD Office: Pennsylvania's Dementia-Specific Policy Hub

In 2024, Pennsylvania established the Office of Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders (ADRD) within the Department of Aging under Act 111 of 2024. This office serves as the state's centralized coordination point for dementia policy, research, and caregiver support.

The ADRD Office's responsibilities include:

• Developing and updating the state's Alzheimer's disease plan
• Coordinating dementia-related programs across state agencies (Aging, Health, Human Services)
• Promoting dementia-friendly community initiatives across Pennsylvania's 67 counties
• Expanding caregiver education and support services
• Tracking and publishing data on dementia prevalence, care costs, and program utilization

For families, the practical impact is that Pennsylvania now has a single office accountable for dementia care policy — rather than scattering dementia-related programs across disconnected bureaus. The ADRD Office maintains a public-facing resource directory and coordinates with the Alzheimer's Association Greater Pennsylvania Chapter on awareness campaigns and caregiver training.

Pennsylvania's Two Alzheimer's Disease Research Centers

Pennsylvania hosts two of the nation's National Institute on Aging (NIA) designated Alzheimer's Disease Research Centers (ADRCs), making it one of only a handful of states with multiple federally funded dementia research institutions:

Penn Memory Center (Philadelphia)

The Penn Memory Center at the University of Pennsylvania is both a clinical care center and a research institution. For families, its most relevant program is its participation in the Medicare GUIDE Model (Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience). The GUIDE model is a federal CMS demonstration program that pays for comprehensive dementia care navigation and provides up to $2,700 per year in respite care benefits for enrolled participants with moderate-to-severe dementia.

Enrollment in GUIDE is available to Medicare beneficiaries who have a documented diagnosis of dementia and are living in the community (not yet in a nursing facility). The program assigns a care navigator who coordinates medical appointments, manages medication reconciliation, connects families with community services, and provides 24/7 support line access for caregiver crises.

University of Pittsburgh ADRC

Pittsburgh's ADRC focuses on clinical research, longitudinal studies of cognitive aging, and clinical trials for experimental dementia treatments. While its primary function is research, the center also provides diagnostic evaluations for patients with suspected dementia — useful for families seeking a definitive diagnosis from a specialized academic center rather than a general neurologist.

Both centers accept referrals from primary care physicians and, in some programs, self-referrals. Contact information is available through the PA Link helpline or the ADRD Office.

How These Resources Connect to Care Planning

Pennsylvania's dementia care infrastructure is genuinely extensive — the challenge for families is not a lack of programs but a lack of coordination between them. A parent with moderate Alzheimer's might simultaneously qualify for OPTIONS home care through the local AAA, respite benefits through the GUIDE model, caregiver reimbursement through the Caregiver Support Program, and — if they meet financial eligibility — Community HealthChoices waiver services. But no single agency explains how all four programs interact, what each covers, and where the gaps are.

The Pennsylvania Dementia & Memory Care Guide maps these programs into a sequential care pathway — from diagnosis through legal authority, home care, facility placement, and Medicaid eligibility — so families can see which programs apply at each stage and how to access them in the right order. It includes the contact information, eligibility criteria, and application steps for each program referenced in this article.

The Bottom Line on Getting Started

If your parent has been diagnosed with dementia or you suspect cognitive decline, your first call should be to PA Link at 1-800-753-8827. Ask for a comprehensive needs assessment and inquire specifically about the ADRD Office resources, the Medicare GUIDE model availability in your county, and the Caregiver Support Program. This initial call costs nothing, creates no obligation, and puts you in contact with the caseworkers who manage actual program enrollment.

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