Care Synergy and CAPABLE National Center Win Inaugural Elevance Health Foundation Patient Safety Prize
$1.5 million award will advance community-based fall prevention and help older adults live safely and independently at home
Care Synergy and the CAPABLE National Center have been selected as winners of the Elevance Health Foundation’s inaugural Patient Safety Prize, earning a $1.5 million award to advance innovative, community-informed approaches to fall prevention and improve safety for older adults.
The award is part of the Foundation’s Community Action Leadership program, which supports solutions to pressing health challenges. The inaugural Patient Safety Prize recognizes organizations developing practical approaches to reducing preventable harm and improving the quality of care, particularly for underserved communities.
Care Synergy and the CAPABLE National Center were recognized in the Promoting Fall-Free Futures category for their work through CAPABLE (Community Aging in Place – Advancing Better Living for Elders), a person-directed, home-based program designed to help older adults remain safe, healthy, and independent in their own homes.
“Preventing falls and helping older adults remain safely in their homes is about so much more than avoiding injuries. It is about preserving independence, dignity, and quality of life,” said Tim Bowen, President and CEO of Care Synergy. “We are honored that the Elevance Health Foundation has recognized the work of Care Synergy and the CAPABLE National Center with this award. This investment will help us build on what we know works, reach more people who can benefit from this approach, and continue developing practical solutions that make a meaningful difference in the lives of older adults, especially those in underserved communities.”
CAPABLE takes a collaborative approach to helping older adults address the challenges that can make living at home difficult or unsafe. The program brings together an occupational therapist, a registered nurse, and a trained home modification professional to work alongside each participant. Rather than prescribing a one-size-fits-all solution, the team helps older adults identify their own goals and develop individualized plans to improve safety, mobility, and daily functioning.
By addressing both individual health needs and barriers within the home environment, CAPABLE helps participants take an active role in maintaining their independence. This approach recognizes that preventing falls requires more than clinical care alone; it also requires understanding each person's circumstances, priorities, and living environment.
For Care Synergy and the CAPABLE National Center, the award represents an opportunity to build on a proven approach and further its impact on older adults and the communities that support them. The recognition also highlights the value of partnerships that combine clinical expertise, practical support, and the voices of the people receiving care.
“We believe older adults should have the opportunity to remain in the homes and communities they know and love whenever possible,” Bowen added. “CAPABLE puts the individual at the center of that work. We are grateful to the Elevance Health Foundation for investing in this approach and for recognizing the importance of community-based solutions that help people live safely, with greater independence and confidence.”
Go Back The award is part of the Foundation’s Community Action Leadership program, which supports solutions to pressing health challenges. The inaugural Patient Safety Prize recognizes organizations developing practical approaches to reducing preventable harm and improving the quality of care, particularly for underserved communities.
Care Synergy and the CAPABLE National Center were recognized in the Promoting Fall-Free Futures category for their work through CAPABLE (Community Aging in Place – Advancing Better Living for Elders), a person-directed, home-based program designed to help older adults remain safe, healthy, and independent in their own homes.
“Preventing falls and helping older adults remain safely in their homes is about so much more than avoiding injuries. It is about preserving independence, dignity, and quality of life,” said Tim Bowen, President and CEO of Care Synergy. “We are honored that the Elevance Health Foundation has recognized the work of Care Synergy and the CAPABLE National Center with this award. This investment will help us build on what we know works, reach more people who can benefit from this approach, and continue developing practical solutions that make a meaningful difference in the lives of older adults, especially those in underserved communities.”
CAPABLE takes a collaborative approach to helping older adults address the challenges that can make living at home difficult or unsafe. The program brings together an occupational therapist, a registered nurse, and a trained home modification professional to work alongside each participant. Rather than prescribing a one-size-fits-all solution, the team helps older adults identify their own goals and develop individualized plans to improve safety, mobility, and daily functioning.
By addressing both individual health needs and barriers within the home environment, CAPABLE helps participants take an active role in maintaining their independence. This approach recognizes that preventing falls requires more than clinical care alone; it also requires understanding each person's circumstances, priorities, and living environment.
For Care Synergy and the CAPABLE National Center, the award represents an opportunity to build on a proven approach and further its impact on older adults and the communities that support them. The recognition also highlights the value of partnerships that combine clinical expertise, practical support, and the voices of the people receiving care.
“We believe older adults should have the opportunity to remain in the homes and communities they know and love whenever possible,” Bowen added. “CAPABLE puts the individual at the center of that work. We are grateful to the Elevance Health Foundation for investing in this approach and for recognizing the importance of community-based solutions that help people live safely, with greater independence and confidence.”