The Age-Friendly Health System is an initiative created by The John A. Hartford Foundation and Institute for Healthcare Improvement in partnership with the American Hospital Association and Catholic Health Association of the United States. Its goal is for every older person to receive the best care possible, avoid harm and be fully satisfied with their care.
According to the Age-Friendly Health System, by 2030, seven to eight million baby boomers will be 65-plus years old. In addition, 80% of them will have one chronic ailment and 75% will be managing two chronic ailments.
The system’s effort is built on the 4Ms framework:
- What Matters – Know and align care with each older adult’s specific health outcome goals and care preferences including, but not limited to, end-of-life care and across care settings – Ask a patient “What Matters to You?” as opposed to “What’s the Matter with You?”
- Medication – If medication is necessary, use Age-Friendly medication that doesn’t interfere with What Matters to the older adult, Mobility or Mentation across care settings
- Mentation – Prevent, identify, treat and manage dementia, depression and delirium across care settings
- Mobility – Ensure that older adults move safely every day in order to maintain function and do What Matters
This progressive approach to care greatly improves the patient experience. Equally as important, it improves outcomes, reduces emergency department visits, minimizes length of stay and limits re-admission. Both departments that piloted the program, the acute inpatient rehabilitation unit and ambulatory practice, St. Joseph Primary and Specialty Care, boast that 100% of their 65-plus years old patients have been evaluated with the 4M framework.
