Roland Park Place is a Life Plan Community located in the historic Roland Park neighborhood of Baltimore, Maryland. It’s the only not-for-profit CCRC in the city and one of the most innovative communities in the nation. It was also recently named the sixth best CCRC in the nation by Newsweek.
Recently on our weekly Roundtable we were joined by Roland Park Place VP of Operations Kiril Apostolov. Kiril gave us a closer look at Roland Park Place’s use of technology and the innovative spirit that makes his community great.
Here are some highlights from that conversation.
ENHANCING RESIDENT ENGAGEMENT THROUGH TECHNOLOGY
Kiril shared some impressive ways technology supports the mission at Roland Park Place. A visitor management system, powered by QR codes, makes check-ins seamless for family and friends while also providing a unique “love meter” feature. This tool helps staff track resident engagement, allowing them to identify who might need extra attention.
They’ve also introduced robots to assist in dining operations. But these aren’t intended to replace staff—they’re there to handle routine tasks so associates can focus on building personal relationships with residents, which Kiril emphasized is the heart of what they do.
STREAMLINED SYSTEMS FOR BETTER LIVING WITH ICON
To make things easier for everyone, Roland Park Place has integrated its work order system and dining reservations into one resident engagement application called ICON. Residents no longer have to juggle multiple systems; everything they need is in one place. This streamlined approach even extends to user-friendly features like large, clear navigation boxes that eliminate the frustration of endless scrolling.
PRIORITIZING SAFETY WITH INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS
Safety is important at Roland Park Place. Supported by tech innovations like a Wi-Fi-enabled appliance system that shuts off appliances if no motion is detected in the kitchen, a cloud-based emergency communication system (AlertMedia) that allows residents to receive information in their preferred format via landline, text, or email, and wireless pull cords. Preventing hazards and allowing residents to age in place is a top priority.
INCREASING ENGAGEMENT THROUGH REAL-TIME UPDATES
ICON has revolutionized how residents stay connected. Instead of relying on bulletin boards, paper calendars and flyers, residents receive real-time updates and reminders directly to their devices. Whether signing up for a trip or joining a digital social group, the app provides timely notifications, boosting participation in activities and community events.