The state department of Health Care Policy and Financing will pilot the program.
A flagship program developed by the Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing to ensure that older adults can live in the comfort of their own home for as long as they can has received $2.3 million for qualifying seniors in the Denver area.
Colorado Visiting Nurses Association (VNA) received the grant from the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) to support and expand its Community Aging in Place-Advancing Better Living for Elders (CAPABLE).
CAPABLE’s goal is to demonstrate that modern investments in short-term interventions will not only enable older adults to stay in their homes longer, but also lower medical expenses and improve health outcomes and their quality of life.
Colorado VNA is one of the first CAPABLE programs and has provided services to qualifying older adults in the greater Denver area since 2017. It has since served more than 300 clients.
"HCPF is excited to team up with community partners to expand the CAPABLE program," Cassandra Keller, the department's community options benefits section manager, said in a statement. "This is a great opportunity to help individuals remain successfully and safely living in their homes."
Through the program, clients are visited by an occupational therapist (OT), an RN, and "handy worker" to work with them on increasing their mobility and improving the functionality of their home for four to five months. Clients have shown improvement in daily living, independence, safety, and health after completing the program, according to a release announcing the grant.
The grant, funded through the American Rescue Plan Act, will be used to support the expansion of the CAPABLE program, enabling the department to assist Health First Colorado members.
Colorado VNA will work alongside community partners and HCPF for the program's implementation. They will also provide community education staff in each area of service to do outreach and inform people about the program and its benefits.
"This funding will support our mission of providing quality, care, and comfort to those Health First members who choose to stay in their homes safely with the assistance of our CAPABLE team," Julie Nunley, Colorado VNA president, said in a statement. "We are excited to collaborate with HCPF to bring this to fruition."
“HCPF is excited to team up with community partners to expand the CAPABLE program. This is a great opportunity to help individuals remain successfully and safely living in their homes.”
Cassandra Keller, community options benefits section manager, Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing
Jasmyne Ray is the revenue cycle editor at HealthLeaders.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
The $2.3 million will expand the reach of the care that CAPABLE provides.
Clients are visited at home over the course of four to five months to evaluate and improve their quality of life, independency, safety, and health when living alone.
The flagship program was developed by the Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing.