What matters when it comes to measuring Age-Friendly Health System transformation

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Health Services Research
• Quality Improvement

Background:

• Age-Friendly Health Systems (AFHS) are widely adopted for older adult care.
• Demonstrating the impact of AFHS on care delivery and outcomes is crucial for sustainability.
• Existing measures may not fully capture the benefits of the "4Ms" model.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a novel measurement model linking AFHS transformation to older adult outcomes.
• To evaluate potential measures based on responsiveness, relevance, and feasibility.
• To identify measures for individual "M"s and system-level effects.

Main Methods:

• Development of a conceptual measurement model for AFHS.
• Evaluation of measures against criteria: responsiveness to "4Ms" care, outcome relevance for older adults, and measurement properties (feasibility, reliability, validity).
• Identification and presentation of existing and potential novel measures.

Main Results:

• A conceptual measurement model is proposed to connect AFHS initiatives with measurable outcomes.
• Measures were assessed for their ability to reflect changes from "4Ms" care and their importance to older adults.
• Examples of current measures and suggestions for system-level measures are provided.

Conclusions:

• A robust measurement model is essential for demonstrating the value of Age-Friendly Health Systems.
• The proposed model aims to guide the selection and development of measures that capture meaningful outcomes for older adults.
• Further discussion and iterative refinement of measurement strategies are encouraged to optimize AFHS impact.