Launching Medical Foster Home Programs: Key Components to Growing This Alternative to Nursing Home Placement.

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Program Development
• Veterans Affairs

Background:

• The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Medical Foster Home program provides an alternative to traditional long-term care.
• Understanding factors influencing program growth is crucial for expanding access to care for veterans.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and explain elements that either facilitated or hindered the growth of the VHA Medical Foster Home program.
• To provide actionable insights for program leaders aiming to scale their initiatives.

Main Methods:

• A qualitative study utilizing national individual interviews and focus groups.
• Involved 53 participants, including program coordinators, support assistants, and home-based primary care team members.
• Data collected from programs in existence for at least two years.

Main Results:

• Four key themes emerged influencing program growth: a full-time coordinator, consistent home-based primary care team engagement, effective referral processes, and strong matches between caregivers, homes, and veterans.
• Barriers and facilitators were identified within these themes, impacting program expansion.
• Specific examples include the importance of dedicated personnel and streamlined referral pathways.

Conclusions:

• Program leaders should prioritize the identified themes to foster growth.
• Developing supportive situations and shaping policies are essential for implementing these themes effectively.
• Strategic focus on coordinator roles, team collaboration, referral management, and placement matching can enhance program scalability.