The Institute for the Future of Aging Services (IFAS) is an independent research organization dedicated to bridging the worlds of policy, practice and research to advance the development and diffusion of high-quality aging and long-term care services and supports. IFAS is the applied research arm of the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (AAHSA).
IFAS pursues its mission in close collaboration with AAHSA's nonprofit senior housing, nursing home, assisted living and aging services members-enabling researchers to work alongside real-world providers to change the landscape of aging services to support older adults' desire to maintain their autonomy and control their own lives as they age.
Latest IFAS News
Nursing Home Participation in End-of-Life Programs: United States, 2004
IFAS has released a report on the number of nursing homes participating in End-of-Life programs, finding that in 2004, fewer than one in five U.S. nursing homes participated in an End of Life (EoL) program. However, homes that had an EoL program were more likely to have programs and staff training for services related to EoL care, a finding that suggests a clustering of these programs, services, and training. Providing for appropriate staff training may be a key to expanding EoL program participation in skilled nursing. More information.
IFAS Awarded Grant to Develop and Evaluate Geriatric Curricula
IFAS has been awarded a grant from the SCAN Foundation to develop, evaluate and disseminate geriatric curricula for continuing education for certified nursing assistants (CNAs) in California nursing homes. The project will result in training that will enhance the skills and knowledge of CNAs, enable them to incorporate these into daily practice and improve the care of nursing home residents. The training materails package will serve as a promising new program model that will inform and strenghten long-term care policy development. More information.
IFAS Awarded Grant to Evaluate WellElder Program
IFAS has been awarded a grant from the SCAN Foundation to evaluate the WellElder Program. WellElder is an innovative strategy to support residents of affordable senior housing properties to maintain independent living through pairing a health educator and service coordinator to provide wellness and health education, health monitoring and assistance in identifying and accessing needed health resources. More information.
Defining the Core Competencies Needed by Long-Term Care Professionals
IFAS staff released a report on the efforts to define the core competencies for long-term care professionals. The report, commissioned by the AAHSA Talent Cabinet, looks at what’s being done to prepare all professionals to care for older adults, examines the efforts to develop the core competencies needed in long-term care settings and offers an agenda for moving forward. More information.
Seven State Investments in Culture Change - Webinar
IFAS has recorded a Webinar on how seven states used their resources and designed programs to invest in and support culture change policy and practice activities in their nursing homes. Watch Webinar.
IFAS Report Assesses Success of Carolina Wellspring Alliance
IFAS recently completed a three-year process evaluation designed to monitor the Lutheran Wellspring Alliance of the Carolinas' progress in implementing the Wellspring Model and to assess that model's effectiveness in improving quality for residents and staff. Read the report.