Enhabit Home Health & Hospice Becomes Age-Friendly Health Systems Participant

DALLAS—Enhabit Inc., a home health and hospice provider, announced it has been recognized by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) as an Age-Friendly Health Systems participant.

The Age-Friendly Health Systems is an initiative of the John A. Hartford Foundation and the IHI, in partnership with the American Hospital Association and the Catholic Health Association of the United States. The Age-Friendly Health Systems aims to follow a set of evidence-based practices, cause no harm and align with what matters to the older adult and their family caregivers.

Age-Friendly Health Systems participants are recognized for aiming to become an Age-Friendly Health System and have submitted examples of how they put four elements of care—the “4Ms”—into practice with older patients.

“We’re participating in this vital movement to share our practices and learn from others providing Age-Friendly Care,” said Bud Langham, executive vice president of clinical excellence and strategy at Enhabit. “This initiative aligns with our vision to provide the best possible care for every older adult.”

As part of the Age-Friendly Health Systems initiative, the John A. Hartford Foundation and the IHI intend to help hospitals and other care settings implement the 4Ms, which aim to improve care for older adults. The 4Ms are detailed below.

• What Matters: Align care with each older adult’s specific health outcome goals and care preferences, including end-of-life care, across multiple care settings.
• Medication: If medication is necessary, use age-friendly medications that do not interfere with what matters to the older adult, their mobility or their mentation across care settings.
• Mentation: Prevent, identify, treat and manage dementia, depression and delirium across settings of care.
• Mobility: Ensure that older adults move safely every day, in order to maintain function and comfort in doing what matters.

With this recognition, Enhabit has joined a select number of health care systems worldwide that are working to tailor care to patient goals and preferences.