Care Synergy recently entered into an agreement with the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing (JHSON) to become the National Center for CAPABLE Services, providing oversight and resources to the current licensed CAPABLE sites and to implement and expand CAPABLE services nationwide.Care Synergy and JHSON will immediately begin working together to transition responsibilities. Once completed, Care Synergy will be the national contact for both existing and new CAPABLE programs.The Community Aging in Place, Advancing Better Living for Elders (CAPABLE) is a client-directed, home-based program, designed to increase mobility, function, and capacity to age in place or age in community and prevent placement in Assisted Living or Skilled Nursing facilities.CAPABLE is a specially designed program based on research that consists of time-limited services, in a series of visits from an occupational therapist (OT), a registered nurse (RN), and a home modification service, who work in collaboration with the adult. A key component of this approach is having the participant drive the goal setting.Over the past decade, the CAPABLE program has grown from the original Baltimore, Maryland/JHSON site to over 40 CAPABLE sites in 21 states, including some sites participating in ongoing research of the program. This expansion is ready to accelerate given population health trends and an increasing societal focus on supporting people as they age in place in their community and reducing health disparities.Care Synergy as the National Center will expand on the work that JHSON has done to nationally scale CAPABLE by educating community organizations on the benefits of becoming a licensed provider and offering CAPABLE services in their local communities.  Care Synergy will support those organizations through the implementation process and as they serve clients and work collaboratively with JHSON on exploring available opportunities for funding CAPABLE.Given research showing a reduction of healthcare costs, CAPABLE is poised to support Accountable Care Organizations, Medicare Advantage programs and other healthcare insurers seeking services that reduce spending for the aging population who want to remain independent and in their place of residence.CAPABLE was unanimously recommended by the Physician-Focused Payment Model Technical Advisory Committee to the Secretary of Health and Human Services for testing to inform Medicare payment model development.If you have any questions, please call 303-780-4600.

Accepting the fact that a loved one is about to leave us physically is one of the hardest tasks a family faces. Which makes it altogether understandable that they're hesitant about calling for hospice care. Actually, the presence of the right hospice team can make the precious time remaining much more comfortable for the patient and more rewarding to all who care.How can a family know when the time is right?Having worked with patients and those who love them for more than 35 years, we at The Denver Hospice suggest they start with four questions:Has the patients weight declined by five pounds or more in the last 30 days or 10 pounds in the last 180 days?Is comfort the patients goal now, as opposed to curative measures and treatment?Does the patient require increased care support to be able to remain in the current living environment?Would the patient, family and/or caregivers benefit from experienced support given the decline in health or change in care?Even one yes suggests that the individual is likely eligible for hospice care.Having dealt with these factors, the next step is to consider how the right hospice can enhance the experience in a way that honors the unique nature of this person, this family.All hospices care for the body. Our commitment at The Denver Hospice is to care for body, mind and spirit, providing the best in medical care and integrating special therapies to care for the whole person. Our therapists use musical instruments, voice, art, animals, essential oils, their hearts and hands to expand the way we care for our patients and their loved ones.Along with known benefits lessening of depression, pain relief, reduced anxiety and more these integrative therapies often yield unexpected rewards. Insights gained through art have helped families heal rifts and release old hurts. Music than atology the use of music specifically to help with the individuals transition often provides immense release and support to families and friends.So, when is the time right for hospice? It is the moment you and your family want something more more expertise, more comfort, more support to maximize the time remaining and make the days beyond easier.Editors Note: This article was submitted by The Denver Hospice and may be reached at 303-321-2828 or by email at info@care4denver.org.