Get on the same page to improve age-friendly care for all (IHI, 18 May 2023)

Summary

Age-Friendly Health Systems (AFHS) is an initiative that aims to follow evidence-based practices while minimising harm in older patients. The evidence-based elements of high-quality care are known as the 4Ms:

1. What Matters
2. Medication
3. Mentation
4. Mobility

During the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic, a team from the Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) decided to examine the equity of their care for older adults. The resulting study published about the age-friendly work at OHSU is the first to include data about health equity as part of AFHS outcomes and illustrates the importance of creating equitable care at clinical and institutional policy levels. This blog looks at the process the team went through to assess and collect data about age-related equity.