AGING IN PLACE
Aging should not be something to fear; it’s a privilege to get older!
But the reality is, aging is often full of fear and insecurity and the unknown. That's what we heard in our 2024 listening process - stories about...
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the difficulty of navigating and connecting to the right senior services, or
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worrying about losing one's dignity or independence, or
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having to move into a long-term care facility - a move that is often impossibly expensive.
Most of us, when we reach this later stage of life, want to live safely and happily in our own homes for as long as we can. Our question is: How can we make sure that we have the support, the resources, and the independence necessary to age in place?
Did you know...
Kansas is one of the worst states in the nation for “low-care” residents
in long term care facilities, meaning that more people end up in professional
care institutions than need be according to their actual level of need.
These are folks that, with just a little more strategic support, could stay in their homes!
CAPABLE: A model for aging in place successfully!
An individual's needs - at any age! - are unique, necessitating a comprehensive, well-coordinated community approach.
In the winter of 2024, our Eldercare Committee began looking for an approach that addresses the clinical needs - which frequently get more complicated as we age - but also the FUNCTIONAL needs, which are often forgotten. Things like dressing, bathing, toileting, food preparation, and getting around - these are the things that are fundamental to living on your own, continuing to engage in the community, and keep doing the things that bring you joy and give life meaning.
In our quest for effective models, we discovered CAPABLE—Community Aging in Place, Advancing Better Living for Elders. This program, developed originally at the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, embodies the interdisciplinary, person-driven approach we envisioned. CAPABLE is already being implemented at nearly 40 sites around the country, and has a decade of research behind it, supporting its effectiveness.
Led by the older adult client, they set goals and create action plans to enhance health, independence, and safety. Participants learn new skills, exercises, and utilize tools and home modifications to improve function and safety.
To learn more about how CAPABLE works, check out the CAPABLE National Center website here:
Some of the research on CAPABLE:
52.9%
of participants had
fewer depressive symptoms
74.8%
of participants had
less difficulty with
Activities of Daily Living
$30,000
= the average savings in medical costs per participant
At our 2025 Nehemiah Action:
Midland Care committed to running a CAPABLE pilot of 100-patients at their new Olathe location, slated to open in October 2025!
The Kansas Department of Aging & Disability Services (KDADS) announced that they would fund half of the pilot program at Midland Care!
Additionally, Deputy Secretary Andy Brown is pursuing legislative approval for a waiver amendment so that CAPABLE would be approved Medicare service!
We continued to build momentum at our June '25 CAPABLE Roundtable
Our event was even featured in the CAPABLE National Newsletter!
Kansas Stakeholders Praise CAPABLE Learning Collaborative
Stakeholders from across Kansas gathered for a recent Learning Collaborative featuring the CAPABLE National Center—and the reviews were overwhelmingly positive. Participants hailed the session as “very valuable,” with many calling it a turning point in their understanding of CAPABLE’s potential to transform aging services statewide.
Attendees represented a broad array of organizations, including public health departments, aging service providers, state agencies, fire and EMS, hospitals, mental health services, and national and local nonprofits. The diversity of perspectives brought a rich depth to the discussion—something many noted as one of the most meaningful aspects of the gathering.
The highlight for many was the presentation by Dr. Sarah Szanton and Amanda Goodenow from the CAPABLE National Center. Their insights provided attendees with a clear and compelling overview of CAPABLE’s structure, success stories, and impact across the country. For those new to the model, their storytelling brought CAPABLE to life and offered a tangible picture of how it works in practice. "By the end," one attendee shared, "I could understand the benefits of CAPABLE and why it’s worth championing in Kansas."
State partners, including Andy Brown and Brian Bolen from KDADS, as well as representatives from Johnson County, added critical context by sharing state-level strategies and priorities. The opportunity to learn about CAPABLE alongside updates on other initiatives like PACE and Medicaid waiver changes was deeply appreciated. Several attendees emphasized how important it was to hear about both the "macro-level strategies and micro-level implementation."
Many participants suggested organizing follow-up meetings, particularly to explore how pilot programs like the one in Olathe could be expanded or replicated. Others emphasized the need to include voices from managed care organizations, adult protective services, and elected officials in future convenings to help secure the policy and funding supports CAPABLE needs to thrive.
There was also strong enthusiasm for making CAPABLE more inclusive of rural needs, with participants noting that their communities face unique challenges—and opportunities—for home-based care. Attendees suggested highlighting local partnerships with fire departments, veteran organizations, and small nonprofits that already support older adults aging in place.
In short, the event sparked both momentum and meaningful dialogue. The combination of compelling content, engaged participants, and a shared goal of building a stronger infrastructure for aging services created a sense of collective purpose that will carry forward. As one participant put it: “This was a great opportunity to learn about a new resource—and to feel part of something bigger.”