The Benefits of Value-Based Care for Older Adults

The care you need at 25 isn’t quite the same as the care you require at 65. After all, age can bring a host of health challenges, so you may be managing multiple conditions, seeing several specialists and taking a handful of different medications.

Value-based care is designed to support these needs by focusing on personalized, coordinated care and proactive, long-term health management.

Read on to learn more about this model of care and its benefits for older adults as well as caregivers.

What Is Value-Based Care?

Simply put, value-based care is healthcare that focuses on quality of care, patient outcomes and the overall patient experience.

Key aspects of value-based care include:

• Coordinated care. Seeing separate specialists across various health systems — none of whom are connected — can be frustrating and exhausting. But in a value-based care model, primary care teams collaborate with your specialty providers for a more unified approach to care.

• Patients as partners. A key member of the healthcare team? You. Value-based care means care teams spend time with you to understand your unique health goals and challenges. You are an active partner in your care, collaborating with providers in your healthcare decisions.

• Whole-person care. Our needs extend beyond our medical issues. Value-based care recognizes this reality and focuses on the individual as a whole person. In practice, that can mean providing access to resources such as social work services, fitness classes and educational seminars to support your overall health goals.

• Emphasis on preventive health: A key tenet of value-based care is keeping you healthy over the long term, not just treating you when you’re sick. Services like preventive health screenings and lab work enable providers to identify potential health issues early — and intervene before the problem gets bigger.

How Does Value-Based Care Compare to Traditional Care?

Traditional care in the U.S. is called “fee-for-service” care. In this model, healthcare providers are paid for the services they deliver, like office visits or procedures. This is the model used by traditional Medicare (parts A and B).

With value-based care, providers are paid based on patients’ health outcomes rather than the number of services delivered — essentially incentivizing and rewarding providers for quality care. This is the model used by Medicare Advantage (part C).

While fee-for-service is the most common model in the U.S., value-based care is gaining momentum. Both models seek to provide patients with appropriate medical care, and many healthcare organizations use elements of both approaches.

Benefits of Value-Based Care for Older Adults

With its focus on quality over quantity, value-based care offers longer and more frequent appointments, allowing you to spend more time with your doctor to discuss a variety of concerns, as often as you need.

Key benefits for older adults may include:

• Better management of chronic conditions. Getting regular, proactive care can help you and your doctors manage symptoms and monitor the progression of conditions such as arthritis, diabetes and heart disease, enabling you to maintain optimal health over time.

• Fewer hospital visits. Addressing potential health issues before they escalate can mean fewer emergency room visits and hospital admissions, leading to better health outcomes (and less frustration and stress).

• Improved quality of life. Care that goes beyond medical issues to consider all aspects of your health — such as fitness, nutrition and socialization — can help you maintain independence, mental acuity and a sense of purpose.

How Value-Based Care Can Support Caregivers

With value-based care, caregivers can have peace of mind knowing their loved ones are spending more time with their doctors, more often — and that their care team is dedicated to meeting their unique needs and preferences.

Key benefits for caregivers may include:

• Active involvement in care. Research reveals that integrating family members into a patient’s care team can improve overall outcomes — which is why caregivers are welcome to join their loved ones’ medical visits and speak directly with the care team.

• Dedicated care manager. A single point of contact can significantly reduce logistical and mental stress, providing the information and clarity you need as you support your loved one’s care.

• Social worker support. Value-based care centers can connect you with social workers to help you establish mental health services, navigate long-term care planning and more. They can also provide emotional support through the many changes that come with aging.

The Value-Based Care Difference

Forging a long-term relationship with providers who understand your health goals and support you every step of the way is the essence of value-based care — and that focus on continuous care can help you live a longer, healthier life.