Immanuel Pathways recognized as leader in age-friendly care

Immanuel Pathways PACE® has received recognition as a Level 2 (Committed to Care in Excellence) Age-Friendly Health Systems organization.

Age-Friendly Health Systems is an initiative of The John A. Hartford Foundation and the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI), in partnership with the American Hospital Association (AHA) and the Catholic Health Association of the United States (CHA).

The Age-Friendly Health Systems initiative, led by IHI, advocates for care that prioritizes the 4Ms:

1. What Matters: Know and align care with each older adult’s specific health outcome goals and care preferences, including, but not limited to, end-of-life care and across care settings.
2. Medication: If medication is necessary, use age-friendly medication that does not interfere with what matters to the older adult, such as mobility or mentation, across care settings.
3. Mentation: Prevent, identify, treat, and manage dementia, depression, and delirium across settings of care.
4. Mobility: Ensure that older adults move safely every day in order to maintain function and do What Matters.

IHI recognizes healthcare settings improving care for older adults through evidence-based practices focused on the 4Ms. As of June 2024, more than 4,000 healthcare organizations have earned either Level 1 (Participant) or Level 2 (Committed to Care Excellence) recognition in the Age-Friendly Health Systems movement:

• Level 1 (Participant) teams have successfully developed plans to implement the 4Ms.
• Level 2 (Committed to Care Excellence) teams have three months of data on older adults who received 4Ms care.

PACE® provides comprehensive healthcare and social services to older adults (participants) still living independently in their homes. This includes primary and specialty medical care, such as audiology, dentistry, optometry, podiatry, home care, prescriptions; specialty care; respite care; transportation; adult day services, including meals, nutritional counseling, social work, personal care, and physical, occupational, and recreational therapies; and hospital and nursing home care, when necessary.

“We are honored to be recognized as a Level 2 Age-Friendly Committed to Care Excellence Participant,” said Dr. Natalie Manley, Immanuel Medical Director. “This accreditation reflects our dedication to providing compassionate, person-centered care that enhances the well-being of the seniors we serve.”

Most of the participants in PACE® are dually eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid. The 4Ms ensure that care is medically effective and aligned with each participant’s personal goals and preferences.

Immanuel Pathways underwent rigorous evaluation to achieve this accreditation and demonstrated comprehensive adherence to the 4Ms framework across its three centers. Staff receive specialized training to effectively implement strategies that promote cognitive health, mobility, medication management, and personalized care planning.

As a Level 2 organization, Immanuel Pathways PACE® is committed to further integrating age-friendly principles into its care model. This accreditation underscores the organization’s ongoing efforts to improve health outcomes and quality of life for older adults in eastern Nebraska, southwest Iowa, and central Iowa. Immanuel Pathways PACE was accredited as a Level 1 participant and quickly excelled to the next level of accreditation.

Immanuel Pathways PACE® offices can be found in Omaha (serving eastern Nebraska), Council Bluffs (serving southwest Iowa), and Des Moines (serving central Iowa).