Implementing an Age-Friendly Health System in the Nursing Home

Age-Friendly Health Systems is a patient care framework developed by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement and the John A. Hartford Foundation that aims to improve health outcomes in older adults through focusing on the 4Ms: what matters most, medication, mentation, and mobility. By applying the elements of Age-Friendly Health Systems into the nursing home, care is better aligned with what matters most to the older adult and their caregiver. This presentation will provide a background of Age-Friendly Health Systems, an example of implementing the framework into a nursing home setting, and recommendations for any healthcare provider to apply the framework into their nursing home.  

Upon completion of this presentation, participants will be able to:

1. Clearly state what defines an Age-Friendly Health System
2. Identify the 4Ms and how to measure them in the nursing home setting
3. Be able to apply the 4Ms to the older adult population in the nursing home 

Continuing education credits available: Nursing Home Administrator and Social Work

Presenter: Emily Kasmar, VA Black Hills and the University of South Dakota

Presented: July 9, 2025