What Every Caregiver in PA Should Know About This New Toolkit
What Every Caregiver in PA Should Know About This New Toolkit
July 10, 2025
The Pennsylvania Department of Aging has introduced a new resource to help unpaid caregivers across the Commonwealth. As part of the state’s “Aging Your Way, PA” ten-year plan, the PA CareKit was created to offer practical tools and information to people providing care for family members, friends, or neighbors.
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The CareKit was developed in response to feedback from more than 20,000 Pennsylvanians who participated in listening sessions, surveys, and meetings. Caregiver support emerged as one of the most frequently mentioned needs. In response, the Department worked with stakeholders to design a toolkit that could offer clear, easy-to-use resources for people at any stage in their caregiving journey.
The CareKit is available online at pa.gov/carekit and helps answer key questions such as:
Where do I begin as a caregiver?
How do I manage medications and chronic health conditions?
What financial and legal planning should I consider?
How can I make the home safer and prepare for emergencies?
What can I do to take care of my own health and well-being?
How do I explore a career in caregiving if I already have experience?
The website includes a quiz that helps users identify their needs and generates a personalized guide with relevant resources. There are also print-friendly worksheets and information tailored to different caregiving situations, including spousal caregivers, parents caring for adult children, and those supporting loved ones from a distance.
Local Area Agencies on Aging play a key role in connecting caregivers to services. In Allegheny County, Russ Goralczyk emphasized the importance of meeting caregivers where they are.
“Our goal is to help caregivers keep their loved ones at home by easing their stress,” said Goralczyk, who oversees the Caregiver Support Program in Allegheny County. “Caregiving affects every part of a person’s life — work, finances, and emotional health. Even if someone doesn’t qualify for financial assistance, they can still receive care management and support at no cost.”
The PA CareKit brings together many existing tools and programs in one location. It aims to make the caregiving journey more manageable by helping people find the right information at the right time.