Garden Spot Communities, a continuing care retirement facility in New Holland, Pennsylvania, has grown a comprehensive video security solution over nearly 20 years that maintains the facility's welcoming, open-door philosophy, while ensuring resident safety.
The community operates public restaurants and welcomes neighbours across its 230-acre campus, while securing 1,100 residents using Milestone Systems XProtect video management software (VMS).
Technology partnership
Garden Spot maintains an intentionally open campus that includes a Starbucks cafe open to the public
Garden Spot Communities, along with their Lancaster-based integrator partner App-Techs, have continually expanded their Milestone XProtect VMS to cover the unique needs of their nearly 1.4 million square foot facility, which accommodates diverse camera brands and technologies.
Unlike traditional senior living facilities that rely on gates and fences, Garden Spot maintains an intentionally open campus that includes a Starbucks cafe open to the public.
The system includes wireless links extending coverage to perimeter areas up to 300 metres from main buildings, supporting the facility's philosophy of openness rather than barriers.
Eyes across campus
"Having a comprehensive video system is key to our operating such a large enterprise," said Steve Muller, Chief Operating Officer at Garden Spot Communities.
He adds, "Garden Spot's core philosophy from the very beginning is that what we don't spend on fences and gates, we can spend on cameras. We need to have eyes on what's happening across campus, and with a system like Milestone, we can do exactly that."
Operational benefits
The video system serves as an integral operational tool, enabling staff to respond quickly to emergencies
The video system serves as an integral operational tool, enabling staff to respond quickly to emergencies and maintain situational awareness across the campus.
The technology provides enhanced safety, improved operational efficiency, and valuable peace of mind for staff and families. Staff access video feeds from security workstations, office desktops, and mobile phones for timely response to situations.
The system proves most valuable when a resident is missing from their normal routine, with staff turning to video as their first investigative step. In one case, cameras enabled rapid response to locate a gentleman with dementia who had left campus, preventing potential harm.
Seamless monitoring
Beyond security, the system supports operational needs, including weather monitoring during Pennsylvania winters and remote monitoring of the facility's aeroponic greenhouse.
The system operates across multiple Dell servers with centralised management, enabling seamless monitoring from a single interface. App-Techs' Health Utility Monitor software provides telemetry data every five minutes, enabling proactive maintenance that resolves issues before staff notice them.
Open platform
The open platform approach provides flexibility in camera selection rather than locking the facility into a single manufacturer. This flexibility enabled system evolution from a four-camera installation in 2006 to today's comprehensive 110-camera network. The partnership with App-Techs extends beyond installation to ongoing system health monitoring, ensuring consistent performance while allowing Garden Spot staff to focus on operations rather than technical troubleshooting.
Garden Spot's experience demonstrates how open platform video technology can support organisational values, while providing essential operational capabilities. The system has adapted and grown alongside facility needs, proving that investments in scalable technology provide lasting value for senior living communities seeking to balance security with community openness.
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