PENNSYLVANIA — In a collaborative effort to improve the state’s long-term care communities, leaders from the Pennsylvania Departments of Health (DOH) and Human Services (DHS), along with representatives from older adult associations, gathered at Country Meadows of West Shore on Wednesday.
Acting Secretary of Health Dr. Debra Bogen emphasized the critical role of long-term care communities in safeguarding the health of residents. “Long-term care facilities across Pennsylvania require coordinated and collaborative assistance to enhance crucial support services for their residents and workers,” she said.
To facilitate these improvements, the DOH established the Long-Term Care Transformation Office earlier this year. The office serves as a resource for long-term care communities, including assisted living and skilled nursing facilities, personal care homes, intermediate care facilities, and state veterans homes throughout Pennsylvania. It liaises with multiple state agencies and stakeholder organizations to comprehend industry challenges and instigate positive changes.
The Long-Term Care Transformation Office is primarily focused on bolstering workforce resilience in long-term care, enhancing infection prevention and control, ensuring emergency preparedness, and establishing sustainable outbreak response operations.
Meredith Mills, President and CEO of Country Meadows of West Shore, provided examples of how they’re utilizing grant funding from the Quality Investment Pilot, a program launched by DOH earlier this year. This funding supplements Country Meadows’ investment in workforce development and infrastructure improvements.
The grants are enabling long-term care facilities across Pennsylvania to roll out innovative strategies to upgrade staff training and retention. It also supports the development of infrastructure interventions to enhance infection prevention control and emergency readiness.
DHS Executive Deputy Secretary Andrew Barnes highlighted the importance of personal care homes and assisted living facilities like Country Meadows of West Shore. “They offer individuals a place to live where they can maintain independence and receive the support they need to age in place in their community,” he stated.
Barnes further underscored the Shapiro Administration’s commitment to supporting staff and residents across Pennsylvania’s long-term care options. The ongoing collaborative efforts by state departments, stakeholder organizations, and long-term care communities aims to demonstrate the administration’s dedication to enhancing the quality of care for the elderly in Pennsylvania.
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