(MPIs: G. Alexander, K. Posey, A. Sease, & K. Knight)
Older adults, particularly those in under-resourced neighborhoods with histories of incarceration, substance use, and comorbid health conditions, face significant barriers to stable housing, food security, and overall well-being. These barriers are compounded by limited access to health care and challenging socioenvironmental factors like isolation and housing instability. The AIMS initiative is studying ways to address these issues by integrating social and health services through an interprofessional teams approach, including registered nurses, occupational therapists, physical therapists, dietitians, and legal advocates. The study also includes a mobile health unit (MHU) that provides more immediate access to services. Ultimately, the program’s goal is to design and test an intervention approach that promotes aging in place by addressing a comprehensive array of needs alongside critical health needs like substance use disorders and infectious diseases.
The study leverages TCU and Fort Worth community organizations partnerships; these partnerships include TCU’s Institute of Behavioral Research, TCU Nursing, Tarrant Area Food Bank, and local health and legal aid services to deliver innovative care tailored to the unique needs of older adults. Outcomes include housing stability, reduced emergency room visits, fewer hospitalizations, improved chronic disease management, and other health-related outcomes.
By bridging gaps in care and focusing on what matters most to older adults, AIMS seeks to transform the delivery of health and social services for this vulnerable populations.