In PA Field Hearing, Fetterman and McCormick Discuss Loneliness and Social Isolation Among Seniors

October 29, 2026 In PA Field Hearing, Fetterman and McCormick Discuss Loneliness and Social Isolation Among Seniors Watch the full hearing here PITTSBURGH, PA – Today, U.S. Senators John Fetterman (D-PA) and Dave McCormick (R-PA) hosted a field hearing in Pittsburgh where they discussed a rising topic among Pennsylvania’s seniors: loneliness and social isolation. The witnesses on the panel included Dr. Shannah Gilliam, PhD Director at Allegheny County Department of Human Services Area Agency on Aging (DHS-AAA), Dr. Martin Sliwinski, PhD Professor of Aging Studies and Director of the Center for Healthy Aging at Penn State University, Feleen Nancarvis, Executive Director for Meals on Wheels of Lancaster, and Laura Poskin, Chief Aging Officer at Jewish Healthcare Foundation. “I’ve always believed in the importance of connecting forgotten communities and making sure they aren’t left behind. That includes our aging neighbors and the often unaddressed needs they have,” said Senator Fetterman. “Hearing that Meals on Wheels might be the only human contact older folks have that week is alarming. Social isolation and loneliness are serious issues, and I’m grateful for the witnesses’ testimony today and understanding how we can better serve the community.” “Pennsylvania seniors helped build our communities, worked our mills and mines, and served our country, and they deserve to stay connected,” said Senator McCormick. “Today’s hearing is about finding practical ways to reach isolated seniors and ensuring local organizations across Pennsylvania have the support they need to help.” Senator Fetterman has previously served on the Senate Special Committee on Aging and has introduced the Senior Hunger Prevention Act , legislation to expand Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits and local food delivery support for older adults and individuals with disabilities. He has also introduced the Boosting Benefits and COLAs for Seniors Act , legislation to protect and expand Social Security benefits for older adults. See highlights below and watch the full interview here . – Fetterman: You said something that really haunted me, meals on wheels might be the only human contact for an individual for the week. What is the percentage of that, do you have statistics? More research shows that social interaction is an important part of your health. That is profound to me. Nancarvis: One of the stats I do have, we conducted a survey earlier this year, and 32% of respondents claim that a volunteer that they see delivering their meals is the only person they see on a given day or even a week. The food is a necessary part in alleviating that isolation and loneliness but that knock on that door is as well. We are knocking on the door, and if we do not hear from them or see the cooler, we make sure we call them or an emergency contact. If we can’t get in touch with them we will make sure we call emergency services. When we do interact with them we are building a relationship with them. – Fetterman: When I was mayor, we provided local scholarships for life alert, and now understanding one third of your clients see only their food delivery driver in a given week, how many of your seniors utilize [the life alert]? Gilliam: Alleghany county was one of the last counties to provide what is considered nonmandated services like the life alert, and even though they are nonmandated they are critical. We are talking about a connection in a time of crisis. When funding got tight and we had to make choices between waitlists for food or whether we can give someone a personal emergency service device we had to make the tough choice for food. Those decisions are very difficult to make especially when you know that someone is living alone. These are the kind of decisions we are being asked to make.