POST-ACUTE
‘What Matters’ For providers, being ‘age-friendly’ means listening to the patient “What’s bothering you today?” or “How do you feel?” are common openers for physicians, nurses and other
caregivers when they meet a patient. What often follows are a quick diagnosis and treatment plan. But some providers are rethinking the process. They’re taking a step back and asking their patients a fundamental question: “What matters to you insofar as your health and life are concerned?”
For some patients, it might be gaining enough strength to walk a block, or controlling pain, or living independently as long as possible. For those with an advanced illness, it could be, “I want to live long enough to see my daughter’s baby,” “or “I’ve always wanted to travel, and now is the time to do it.” The Age-Friendly Health Systems movement is an initiative to align “what matters” to the patient and their family caregivers at every care interaction. Launched in 2017, Age-Friendly is an initiative of The John A. Hartford Foundation and Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) in partnership with the American Hospital 16
April 2021
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Association and the Catholic Health Association of the United States. Until now, it has focused primarily on older adults in the ambulatory or acute-care setting, but proponents believe its strength lies in its application across the care continuum, including long-term and post-acute care.
The 4Ms Close to 2,000 providers are formally recognized as being “Age-Friendly” by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, says Alice Bonner, PhD, RN, senior advisor for aging at the IHI. The number of nursing homes and other congregate care settings is growing.
