Summary
The John A. Hartford Foundation and the Institute for Healthcare Improvement launched the Age-Friendly Health Systems initiative in collaboration with the American Hospital Association and the Catholic Health Association of the United States. It attempts to improve the quality and safety of health care for older individuals while minimizing injury and reducing the pressure on health-care systems.
Building on tried-and-true models and programs, the Age-Friendly Health Systems initiative uses a "4Ms" framework to meet the specific health care needs of older people. It looks at What Matters (each person's health priorities), Mentation (dementia, delirium, and depression), Mobility (function), and Medications.
This framework encompasses efforts such as telemedicine, age-friendly emergency treatment, and assisting older persons in identifying health objectives.Much work remains to be done to guarantee that all older people receive tailored care from an age-friendly health system, which grantmakers may help with.