Implementing ICOPE in New Mexico: A process-oriented approach to promoting healthy aging in older adults

The New Mexico Health Care Authority, the University of New Mexico Hospital, and the School of Medicine partnered in 2024 to implement the World Health Organization's Independent Care for Older People (ICOPE) program. The program's mission is to "empower New Mexico's seniors through prevention and person-centered care, enhancing health, independence, and quality of life by improving services, resources, and community support for healthy aging." Using the 2025 second edition of the ICOPE manual, the New Mexico ICOPE team has developed a strategic plan, an organizational structure reliant on community partnerships, a project plan, and algorithms to address the six ICOPE intrinsic capacities, as well as assessments of three key factors including urinary incontinence, social and carer support. The detailed process for algorithm development is described herein. These algorithms are the basis of the smartphone application developed to allow seniors to complete the ICOPE Basic Assessment and significant portions of the In-Depth Assessment at home. The algorithms are designed to enhance the use of community support resources and reduce the need for health care system visits when appropriate, while at the same time integrating primary care services whenever needed. The system architecture and data and information flow are illustrated. The program's evaluation is structured according to the Practical, Robust Implementation and Sustainability Model (PRISM), used to identify the elements of implementation and effectiveness that will be measured. These include contextual factors such as institutional adoption, implementation, and maintenance of ICOPE, the program's reach, and the impact of ICOPE on patient experience of care, population health, and cost of care.