HARRISBURG — A panel appointed by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court recommended dozens of changes Monday to help older people interact with the courts and strengthen laws designed to protect them from financial or physical abuse.

“If societies are judged on how they help their most vulnerable, now is the time to craft solutions as older Pennsylvanians face physical, emotional and financial abuses,” said Chief Justice of Pennsylvania Ronald D. Castille, who is leaving the court at the end of the year because he has reached the mandatory retirement age of 70.

Among the proposals by the 38-member Elder Law Task Force are modifications of court rules to require mandatory training and criminal background checks for prospective guardians. The panel also urged the Legislature to expand the list of people and entities that may request judicial review of questionable actions by those with power of attorney for an older person.

The panel, headed by Supreme Court Justice Debra McCloskey Todd, also recommends changes in law that would require financial institutions to report suspected financial exploitation of elderly people and prevent anyone convicted of abusing or neglecting an older person from benefiting from their estate.

The state’s highest court has already approved one of the panel’s recommendations by establishing an Office of Elder Justice in the Courts, which will help the court implement the recommendations. It will open in January at the Pennsylvania Judicial Center in Harrisburg.

Todd said she hoped the judicial involvement will dovetail ongoing efforts to help seniors by the executive and legislative branches. Castille pointed out that some elderly people who are victims of abuse or theft have no contact with government services until they appear in court.