Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA

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Project Title
Services to Help At-Risk Elders Age in Place (SHARE)

Project Summary
The Boston Medical Center's Elders Living at Home Program (ELAHP) proposes to provide and assess comprehensive services allowing a minimum of 40 low-income, formerly homeless older adults who are at risk of recurring homelessness to remain in public housing, with maximum independence, improved health and healthcare, and meaningful activities and relationships. The approach is to provide comprehensive, individualized, ongoing case management targeted to the specific needs of formerly homeless older adults.

Goals and Objectives
The goal of the project is to implement and evaluate an intervention to assist formerly homeless older adults to age in place. The objectives are: 1) to build a support network that is accessible and appropriate for formerly homeless older adults; 2) to help these older adults build on their individual abilities, interests, and living skills to achieve the highest possible level of self-determination; and 3) to document and disseminate findings from this intervention that can be used to advance services and policies for vulnerable, underserved older adults.

Outcomes and Products
The expected outcomes of this project are: 1) 95% of older adults will remain in their homes; 2) 90% of older adults will increase independence, as measured by diminishing reliance on services; and 3) 80% of older adults will maintain or improve their health status; 80% will improve socialization. The products from this project are: data on intensive, individualized stabilization services; case studies on both successful and unsuccessful older adults; and a document on findings that will be shared with advocates for older adults and used to make public policy recommendations at the national, state, and local level.