HARRIS, NY — The Center for Discovery (CFD) and the John A. Hartford Foundation (JAHF) today released a report, prepared by the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago (NORC), titled “The Center for Discovery Program Evaluation: How the HealthE6® Model Can Support Healthy Aging.”

Because  the CFD’s six-pillared approach—the HealthE6® Model—demonstrates effective, person-centered care for the disabled population, including older adults, JAHF engaged NORC to evaluate whether its components could be translated to the care of older adults in a widely diverse range of care settings across the United States. This issue has become particularly acute, as older adults for the first time outnumber children in U.S. history, the press release noted.

Based on over 20 hours of interviews, several days on site, document reviews, and assessment of outcomes provided by the CFD, the report by NORC identified five core components of the HealthE6® Model that can be piloted in other settings, at varying levels of financial investment  and capabilities. These core components include:

Initial and ongoing assessment of the individual’s physical and mental well-being

A schedule that includes physical activity and a consistent sleep routine

Meaningful socialization with staff, friends and family

A nourishing diet based on whole foods

An adaptive environment that allows for safe, independent engagement

The report also identified opportunities for additional research. The CFD model works, it noted, “because of its staff members—who are engaged, trained, and well-supported by The Center—and its mission-driven, dedicated leadership.” It called for a separate study to examine why the staff was so successful despite high-stress jobs.

What is currently missing at the CFD, the report added, is “the opportunity to provide end-of-life care with a focus on community-based palliative care. Over time, as more residents enter old age, The Center will need to build or adjust its current programs to address this gap.”

The press release stated that the CFD, with funding, would be able to develop those supports and “significantly advance the continuum of complex care for older adults, so that they can be supported throughout an entire lifetime.”

“More and more, we are seeing the merging of aging and disability issues in our work as a funder dedicated to improving the care of older adults,” said Scott Bane, program officer at JAHF.

“The U.S. has a quickly growing population of older adults and substandard options for residential care,” said Dianne Munevar, senior director of health care strategy at NORC. “The Center for Discovery has developed a model of residential care that could serve as an example of how seniors can live independently and with integrity. Our evaluation report includes tangible yet impactful solutions that can be implemented in nursing homes and assisted living centers—without significant financial resources or workforce burden.”

“We have been working for decades to advance new models of care and improve outcomes for all individuals with complex needs,” said Patrick Dollard, CEO of the CFD. “The lessons we have learned can be applied to a range of care settings and we are committed to sharing our best practices with the world. As we say at the Center, what happens here, matters everywhere.”

For more information about the Center for Discovery, visit www.thecenterfordiscovery.org.