CHALLENGE - In today’s health care environment, improving health largely falls outside of health care facilities.
Home is where health is.
People with functional limitations and chronic conditions are four times more likely than the general population to be among the five percent costliest users of health services. And yet, function is rarely addressed in medical visits.
Solution - CAPABLE is a person-directed, home-based program that addresses both function and healthcare expenses.
The four to five-month program integrates services from an occupational therapist (OT), a registered nurse (RN), and a handy worker who work together with the older adult to set goals and direct action plans that change behaviors to improve health, independence, and safety. Participants learn new skills, exercises, and how to work with additional tools/equipment/home modifications to improve function and safety. CAPABLE focuses on prevention and problem-solving, building skills that participants can use in the future. For an example of how the impact of this client-driven interdisciplinary approach, check out Mrs. R's "Beyond Grab Bars" case study.
Community Aging in Place.
Advancing Better Living for Elders.
CAPABLE Improves Health Outcomes at Lower Costs
More than a decade of research shows that CAPABLE reduces the impact of functional impairment and disability, enhances motivation and self-efficacy, reduces health disparities, improves emotional health, and reduces hospitalizations and nursing home days.
IMPROVES INDEPENDENCE, SAFETY, AND HEALTH
CAPABLE has been shown to decrease hospitalization and nursing home stays by improving medication management, problem-solving ability, strength, balance, mobility, nutrition, and home safety.
LOWERS HEALTHCARE COSTS
Research has shown that CAPABLE has provided more than six times return on investment. Roughly $3,000 in program costs per participant yielded more than $30,000 in savings in medical costs driven by reductions in both inpatient and outpatient expenditures.
ENHANCES MOTIVATION AND SELF-EFFICACY
Through the client-driven brain-storming process, clients are given the opportunity to work as a team with their clinicians. This process improves the clients' self-efficacy and builds self-confidence to address challenges once the CAPABLE program is completed.
REDUCES HEALTH DISPARITIES
In a population of low-income older adults on Medicaid and Medicare who participated in CAPABLE, 75% of participants improved their self-care over the course of 5 months.
REDUCES DEPRESSION SYMPTOMS
Symptoms of depression, as well as the ability to grocery shop and manage medications also improved.