Jan 31, 2014 1 min read

Kathleen Kleinmann, chief executive officer of Tri-County Patriots for Independent Living based in Washington, is one of 25 people Gov. Tom Corbett named Friday to his newly created Pennsylvania Long-Term Care Commission.

“Pennsylvania has a rapidly growing older adult population and the sixteenth largest population of non-institutionalized persons with disabilities in the nation,” Corbett said in a statement. “It’s critical that we take a closer look at the needs within our system and identify ways to make it more effective and efficient to meet those needs, not just now, but for years to come.”

The commission is to develop recommendations to improve the current long-term care system, including ways to provide a better-coordinated approach to delivering services and support, and ensuring quality health care for older Pennsylvanians and individuals with physical disabilities.

Secretary of Public Welfare Beverly Mackereth and Secretary of Aging Brian Duke will serve as the co-chairs of the commission. The commission will have until December to complete its evaluation and will submit its findings to the governor.

By 2015, one in four individuals in the state will be 60 years of age and older and the population of Pennsylvanians age 85 and older continues to grow.