Group focused on

age-friendly care set to convene

The American Hospital Association is convening an “action community” this fall to expand knowledge of the Age-Friendly Health Systems initiative and invites all clinical care sites that provide care to older adults to participate.

Age-Friendly Health Systems is an initiative based on a set of evidence-based practices called the “4Ms” — what matters to the patient, mobility, mentation and medication.

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tion meant nobody had to drive longer than two hours, and participants could walk through the grounds and gardens during reflection time.

McNabb didn’t want anybody to prepare or bring anything for the day: all they had to do was show up. He gave notebooks and pens to each participant, as well as prayer cards featuring the Sacred Heart. Those cards were placed underneath prayer cards for Our Lady of the Streets, reflecting St. Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort’s teaching that one must go through Mary to get to Jesus. The notebooks were accented with a fleur-de-lis, a symbol used at St. André.

The theme of the day was “Two keys to being Christ for others: Vulnerability and Love.” McNabb thought Mary was a good representation of vulnerability and the Sacred Heart a representation of love. The morning included a presentation, reflection and discussion on vulnerability, and the afternoon followed a similar format on love.

Lucas, director of mission integration and spiritual care for St. André, pointed out that Msgr. Moroney reminded those at the gathering that the face of the Lord is in the imprisoned, sick and dying.

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“It was a reminder that the ‘I’ in ‘I was sick, and you visited me’ is the vulnerable patient in the ICU, the lonely resident in the nursing home, the dying person in hospice care,” Lucas said. “In our work, we gaze upon the face of the suffering Christ. That gaze heals us of our need to be viewed as holy or effective.”

Msgr. Moroney told them of seeing that face: “It will transform you.”

Never alone

Kevin Flynn, vice president — mission integration and ethics for St. Joseph Hospital in Nashua, New Hampshire, was among the attendees. He said that mission in Catholic health care “serves as an anchor in times of leadership transition. It permeates the organization and is part of the fabric of our souls.”

Flynn said the collegiality and camaraderie among mission colleagues is a source of strength and sustainability. “They remind us that we’re never alone, even during a pandemic,” he said. “It is easier to care for others when you’re surrounded by colleagues who share and embrace the same mission.”

McNabb encourages other spiritual care professionals who might be thinking about planning such a day to go for it. “It’s not going to be something grand the first time you do it,” he said. “You just have to try.” vhahn@chausa.org

Age-Friendly Health Systems is an initiative of The John A. Hartford Foundation and the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, in partnership with CHA and the American Hospital Association.

“The 4M framework represents the greatest advancement in quality care for older adults I have encountered, as a nurse and as a CHA staff member,” says Julie Trocchio, senior director of community benefit and continuing care at CHA. “It translates many years of health research into vital and practical practices that work in all settings caring for seniors.”

Entities within Providence St. Joseph Health, Ascension and Trinity Health were among the first to test the concepts behind the initiative. To date, more than 3,000 hospitals and health care practices have become Age-Friendly Health Systems by learning and using the 4Ms framework.

Once health facilities or practices incorporate the initiative’s framework into patient care, the Institute for Healthcare Improvement provides them with a tool kit to market themselves as an Age-Friendly Health System. The institute is a nonprofit focused on motivating and building the will for change.

Joining an action community is one of the on-ramps to taking part in the initiative. The community tests the 4M framework in hospital and ambulatory settings and shares learnings in a seven-month program. Community participation comes with webinars, coaching and resources.

More information on Age-Friendly Health Systems and a form to join the action community is online at aha.org/center/ age-friendly-health-systems.

Upcoming Events from The Catholic Health Association

United Against Human Trafficking Networking Zoom Call

Oct. 4 | Noon – 1 p.m. ET

Community Benefit 101: The Nuts and Bolts of Planning and Reporting Community Benefits Virtual Program

Oct. 24 – 26 | 2 – 5 p.m. ET each day

Mission Leader Seminar

Virtual Program

1 – 2 p.m. ET

Tuesdays Nov. 7 – 28 | 1 – 2:30 p.m. ET

A Passionate Voice for Compassionate Care®

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