Colorado VNA Receives $2,300,000 Grant to Expand CAPABLE Program

Colorado VNA recently received a grant totaling $2,300,000 from the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (Department) to support and expand its CAPABLE program and provide care for more Health First Colorado members.

CAPABLE, which stands for Community Aging in Place – Advancing Better Living for Elders, was developed by the Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing. Its goal is to demonstrate that with modest investments in short-term interventions, older adults can remain in their homes longer, decrease medical costs, improve health outcomes and quality of life.

Colorado VNA is one of the flagship programs of Johns Hopkins School of Nursing licensed CAPABLE program and has been providing CAPABLE services to qualifying senior clients in the greater Denver metropolitan area since 2017 – serving over 300 clients since the inception of it CAPABLE program.

Through American Rescue Plan Act funding, the Department received approval to pilot the CAPABLE program to support Health First Colorado members. Colorado VNA will work closely with area partners and the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing to implement CAPABLE in additional areas along the Front Range.

“HCPF is excited to team up with community partners to expand the CAPABLE program. This is a great opportunity to help individuals remain successfully and safely living in their homes,” stated Cassandra Keller, Community Options Benefits Section Manager for the Department.

Within the home-based CAPABLE program, visits are provided by an Occupational Therapist (OT), a Registered Nurse (RN) and Handy Worker who collaborate with the client to increase mobility and functionality in their home. The four-to-five-month innovative approach addresses the participants abilities and the home environment through goal setting and action planning with reported improvements in activities of daily living, independence, safety and health.

“This Funding will support our mission of providing quality, care, and comfort to those Health First members who choose to stay in their homes safely with the assistance of our CAPABLE team,” expressed Julie Nunley, President of Colorado VNA. “We are excited to collaborate with HCPF to bring this to fruition.”

In addition, Colorado VNA will provide community education staff in each of the service to conduct outreach and education about the CAPABLE program and its benefits.