Mechanicsburg, PA - Leaders from the Pennsylvania Departments of Health (DOH) and Human Services (DHS) and advocates representing older adult associations across the state joined together today at Country Meadows of West Shore to highlight continued efforts by the Shapiro Administration to enhance care for residents in long-term care communities.
“We rely on long-term care communities to protect and preserve the health of our loved ones – our fathers, mothers, siblings, friends, and neighbors. It is rewarding but challenging work,” said Acting Secretary of Health Dr. Debra Bogen. “If there is one thing we learned over the past couple of years, it is that long-term care facilities across Pennsylvania need coordinated and collaborative assistance to bolster critical support services for their residents and workers.”
To help address these challenges, earlier this year the Department of Health consolidated these efforts into the Long-Term Care Transformation Office to provide guidance and assistance to long-term care communities, including assisted living, intermediate care, skilled nursing, personal care homes, and state veterans homes, across Pennsylvania. The Office works with multiple state agencies and stakeholder organizations to understand industry challenges and implement positive change.
The office is focused on long-term care workforce resiliency, infection prevention and control and emergency preparedness, as well as sustainable outbreak response operations.
Country Meadows of West Shore President and CEO Meredith Mills highlighted examples of how it is using Quality Investment Pilot grant funding announced by DOH earlier this year to supplement its own investment in workforce development and infrastructure improvements.
The funding is helping long-term care facilities across the state implement innovative strategies to improve staff training and retention as well as develop infrastructure interventions to improve infection prevention control and emergency preparedness.
“Personal care homes and assisted living facilities offer individuals a place to live where they can both maintain independence and receive the support they need to age in place in their community — where they want to be,” said DHS Executive Deputy Secretary Andrew Barnes. “Facilities like Country Meadows of West Shore are vital long-term care options for Pennsylvanians, and the Shapiro Administration will do everything we can to continue to support staff and the residents across Pennsylvania.”
Video downloads and photos from the news conference are available on PAcast.
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