The Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC) has introduced a new distinction for accredited home health and hospice agencies: Age-Friendly Care.

This recognition emphasizes the importance of addressing the unique goals and priorities of older adults. It incorporates four evidence-based best practices known as the 4Ms: What Matters, Medication, Mentation, and Mobility. This patient-centered approach is designed to enhance safety, reduce harm and confusion, and improve patient outcomes.

The 4Ms framework is part of the Age-Friendly Health Systems initiative by The John A. Hartford Foundation and the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, in collaboration with the American Hospital Association and the Catholic Health Association of the United States.

Additionally, ACHC has introduced the distinction in Home Health Outcomes. This distinction is the first to validate excellence based on quality standards set by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and is limited to providers scoring in the top 25% of the CMS Home Health Value-Based Purchasing (HHVBP) Performance Report.

These distinctions highlight agencies as champions of age-friendly care and quality outcomes, assuring patients and their families of their dedication to delivering superior care for older adults.

For more information, please email customerservice@achc.org or call (855) 937-2242.