Patient-Centered Medical Homes Help Older Adults Take Control of Their Well-Being

A study in Innovation in Aging assessed the effectiveness of patient-centered medical homes (PCMH), self-management resource center small group programs, wellness coaching, social networking, and personal health records in improving older adults' ability to supervise their own well-being, reports the Medical News Bulletin . A PCMH is a healthcare delivery model featuring a team of medical and community staff who are trained to help monitor and educate customers about their illnesses. Physicians track subjects' health and suggest possible therapies, while community workers educate older adults on dealing with their diseases, mental health, motivation, and setting realistic health goals. The researchers sought to determine whether additional intervention elements would improve the participants' quality of life. Over six months, participants who were assigned wellness coaches and had regular contact with them generally improved their daily physical functioning. The study implies that a structured medical environment that guides participants, and delivers self-help training and long-term follow-up with wellness coaching could significantly help older men and women with chronic diseases to take control of their well-being.