HARRISBURG — A new Elder Law Task Force will take up special legal issues faced by older Pennsylvanians, from their vulnerability to abuse and neglect to the ways in which the judicial system should change to accommodate their needs, state court officials said Thursday.

The 38-member panel held its first meeting this week in Harrisburg and has a year to study the topic and make recommendations for court rules, legislation and other solutions.

“Every Pennsylvanian is going to face this in one way or another, whether it’s their parents, their loved ones or themselves,” said state Supreme Court Justice Debra Todd, who chairs the panel. “And we really want to do everything we can to keep our older adults safe.”

Among the issues being studied are guardianship matters, improved judicial system access and abuse — whether physical, psychological or financial.