Garden Spot Communities in New Holland, Pennsylvania, presents a unique challenge in senior living security. This continuing care retirement community maintains an intentionally open-door philosophy, welcoming the broader community while ensuring resident safety. With 1,100 residents across 1.4 million square feet on 230 acres, the facility operates restaurants and a cafe open to the public, creating security considerations that traditional approaches couldn't address.
Since 2006, their partnership with systems integrator App-Techs has evolved from a four-camera system into a sophisticated 110-camera network running with the Milestone Systems XProtect® video management software platform.
Perimeter monitoring,
wireless links HUM Health Utility Monitor
Garden Spot faced a fundamental challenge that many senior living facilities don't: how to maintain security across a large, open campus. The Garden Spot's philosophy rejects gated community concepts, instead welcoming neighbors who walk dogs through the grounds, families who bring children to play by the creek, and local professionals who grab coffee at the on-site Starbucks. This openness, while fostering community connection, creates unique security considerations that traditional approaches couldn't address.
The solution centers on Milestone Systems' XProtect video management software (VMS), selected for its open platform architecture that accommodates diverse camera brands and technologies. Over the years, Lancaster, Pennsylvania-based integration partner App-Techs has deployed over 100 cameras throughout the facility, with strategic wireless links extending coverage to perimeter areas up to 300 meters from main buildings. The system operates across multiple on-site Dell servers, with centralized management enabling seamless monitoring of all campus locations from a single interface, including remote facilities connected via fiber-optic links.
The video security system has become an integral operational tool, enabling staff to respond quickly to emergencies, verify reported incidents, and maintain situational awareness across the expansive campus. Most significantly, the technology provides valuable peace of mind by helping staff quickly locate residents when needed and ensuring their safety throughout the community. The system's reliability and ease of use have made it an essential daily resource for facility management, while the open platform design ensures long-term scalability and cost-effective expansion.
Garden Spot can alleviate anxieties about perceived security issues or quickly find memory care residents who have gone missing from the normal routine. Weather monitoring has a practical operation application: during Pennsylvania's harsh winters, managers can check campus cameras remotely from home rather than sending crews out at 3 a.m. to assess snow conditions. This helps determine if plowing can wait until business hours, saving labor costs and unnecessary overnight work.
