The Pennsylvania Department of Health, Human Services and Aging, along with stakeholder groups and support from the Department of Health’s Long Term Care Transformation Office (LTCTO), unveiled upgrades to Kirkland Village in Bethlehem. These improvements are intended to improve services for seniors by enhancing facility communication and accessibility.
Established during the COVID-19 pandemic, LTCTO received support from the Shapiro administration, which proposed $10 million in funding in 2024-2025 to continue its mission. Kirkland Village upgrades include expanded Wi-Fi access and new push-to-talk devices for staff to improve response times and care for residents.
Pennsylvania also focuses on supporting its long-term care workforce through the “Pennsylvania Aging Our Way” plan and the Long Term Care Council’s strategy, which focuses on improving wages, benefits, and career opportunities for workers. are doing.
In addition, the LTCTO’s role extends to providing resilience training, infection control, emergency preparedness, and sustainable outbreak response for various healthcare settings. Governor Shapiro’s recent proposals aim to sustain these efforts with significant investments in workforce development programs and education initiatives.
These enhancements and strategic funding underscore Pennsylvania’s commitment to supporting our aging population and the professionals who care for them.
