By: Amy Wagaman, Vice President of Operations
On Tuesday, March 18, 2025, Country Meadows York-West campus was the host to the Pennsylvania Department of Health Secretary Dr. Debra Bogen for a press event highlighting how state funding has positively impacted long-term care workforce and resident safety.
Country Meadows was selected after demonstrating success utilizing grant funding secured through the Department’s Long Term Care Transformation Office in 2023. We implemented technologies that not only enhanced the resident experience but enabled our co-workers to do what they do best—use their compassionate and caring hearts to get to know and learn the needs our residents.
As Secretary Dr. Bogen explained during the event, “Continuing to invest in these efforts benefits both the residents living in the facilities and the health care professionals who are dedicated to delivering the care older adults rightfully deserve.”
Also in attendance at the event were representatives from the Pennsylvania Department of Aging. This office is rolling out a plan titled Aging Our Way PA which has been organized by older Pennsylvanians for older Pennsylvanians. Through this initiative sponsored by the Governor’s office, there will be resources and programs specifically geared toward our state’s older population—which is 3.4 million older adults, the fifth highest total in the country.
Pennsylvania needs our industry now more than ever because residents are moving into our campuses and seeking retirement living accommodations with higher acuity needs. Our industry must put technologies and measures in place to support the caregivers to keep them safe, too. For example, Country Meadows implemented AUGi (“augmented intelligence”)—a fully HIPAA compliant fall prevention and monitoring technology powered by AI. Through this system, staff are alerted in real-time to the safety risks or emergencies and can monitor through an app. As a result, caregivers can monitor multiple residents quickly and assess situations before disturbing them. This doesn’t replace the physical connection our co-workers have with residents but enables them to focus on the caring; not have every interaction be solely task driven.
In addition to the AUGi technology, other enhancements that resulted from the recent grant funding included updated walkie-talkie communications systems, iPhones for call bells and iPads for nurse leadership to do on-the-spot charting and documentation.
Our co-workers have expressed great appreciation for these resources because they love our residents like family and only want to see them be safe and secure. When resident safety is priority, they are living their best lives with us, and our co-workers are equipped to provide the most comprehensive quality care that the residents need and deserve.
I am grateful for the opportunity to share our Country Meadows experience and look forward to investing in other advancements in technology in the future to support our residents and co-workers. It’s only going to get better and create more efficiencies as AI and other technologies evolve that will support our workforce.
To learn more about the PA Department of Health’s work in supporting long-term care, visit their website.
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