HANYS, Alzheimer’s Association release new guide for healthcare providers
Resource helps providers support individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias and their care partners using “Age-Friendly” principles.
People living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias face unique challenges that demand a tailored approach. HANYS and the Alzheimer’s Association are pleased to announce today the release of "Delivering Dementia-Capable Age-Friendly Care."
More than 5,000 care settings nationwide have implemented the Institute for Healthcare Improvement’s Age-Friendly Health Systems 4Ms framework, which focuses on “What Matters,” “Medication,” “Mentation” and Mobility.” This resource adapts the 4Ms framework to help providers across care settings provide Age-Friendly care to older adults living with ADRD.
HANYS and the Alzheimer’s Association encourage healthcare providers to use this new resource to explore how ADRD intersects with each of the 4Ms and read its included narratives that illustrate examples of individuals’ and caregivers’ dementia care journeys.
Clinicians, nurses, pharmacists, care coordinators and interdisciplinary team members are also encouraged to leverage our one-page reference sheets for ambulatory, hospital and long-term care environments in your daily caregiving. The guide also includes appendices with expanded clinical guidance, implementation tools and a curated collection of more than 70 peer-reviewed studies, toolkits and provider templates.
The associations’ partnership leverages the Alzheimer’s Association’s deep expertise in ADRD care, education and support and HANYS’ statewide leadership in health system transformation.
“People living with Alzheimer’s and related dementias face unique challenges such as greater reliance on caregivers, difficulty with communication and increased risk of falls, delirium, medication errors, emergency room visits and extended hospital stays. Tailoring how you care for someone with dementia can make a significant difference for their health and well-being,” said Doris Phildor, MPH, health systems director, Alzheimer’s Association. “We were pleased to work on this guide with HANYS to bring dementia-capable care into Age-Friendly Health Systems.”
“Over the last several years, HANYS has worked with hundreds of providers in New York to become designated Age-Friendly Health Systems – critical progress as our population ages and we see the ensuing shifts in the care our community members need,” said Thomas J. Quatroche Jr., PhD, president and CEO, HANYS. “This guide will help further ensure care for older adults is person-centered, evidence-informed and responsive to New Yorkers’ medical and social needs. We thank the Alzheimer’s Association for its partnership in this effort and its continued support for all New Yorkers affected by Alzheimer’s disease and all other dementias.”
About HANYS
The Healthcare Association of New York State is New York’s statewide hospital and continuing care association, representing nonprofit and public hospitals, nursing homes, home care agencies and other healthcare organizations. HANYS is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to advance the health of individuals and communities by providing leadership, representation and service to healthcare providers and systems across the entire continuum of care.
From 2020 – 2025, HANYS led a statewide Age-Friendly Health Systems Action Community, supporting more than 200 hospitals, federally qualified health centers, nursing homes and home health agencies in achieving Age-Friendly recognition through the Institute for Healthcare Improvement. By embedding the 4Ms framework (What Matters, Medication, Mentation and Mobility) into everyday practice, HANYS has helped organizations reduce avoidable hospitalizations, improve safety and enhance patient and family experience.
This combined legacy of statewide leadership and on-the-ground programmatic support uniquely positions HANYS as a trusted partner in advancing Age-Friendly, dementia-capable care across the care continuum.
About the Alzheimer's Association
The Alzheimer’s Association is a worldwide voluntary health organization dedicated to Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Our mission is to lead the way to end Alzheimer's and all other dementia — by accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection, and maximizing quality care and support. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer's and all other dementia®. Visit alz.org or call 800.272.3900.
The Alzheimer’s Association Health Systems team partners with health system leaders nationwide to advance evidence-informed dementia care. This program spreads best practices and accreditation models, while providing patient resources and continuing medical education on prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. Additionally, through ALZPro, the Association’s integrated hub for professional resources, health systems can access clinical guidelines, research, data platforms, care resources, continuing education, and implementation tools in one trusted location. Many continuing education opportunities are available for physicians, radiologists, neurologists, nurses, advanced practice providers, physician assistants, psychiatrists, social workers, pharmacists and other clinicians. Together, these efforts ensure that communities across the country have access to person- and family-centered, high-quality dementia care grounded in the best available evidence.
