JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

For many older Americans, aging in place is their preferred living arrangement. Minoritized and socioeconomically disadvantaged older adults are up to three times more likely to experience disability than other groups, which increases their likelihood of being unable to age in place. Bold ideas to facilitate aging in place, particularly among vulnerable populations, are needed. One such idea is the Unite care model, a community-initiated, academic supported, cross-sector initiative that combines two sectors: housing and health care. The Unite care model co-locates a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) clinic on an older adult affordable housing campus in Flint, Michigan. A concurrent exploratory mixed methods approach will be used to evaluate the implementation of the Unite care model. We will first assess the implementation and impact of the Unite care model in terms of acceptability, adoption, and penetration among key stakeholder groups using an exploratory mixed methods design. We will then determine which older adults utilize the Unite care model and whether the model promotes aging in place through risk factor reduction and improvement in physical and social environment. If successful, the Unite care model could serve as a new care model to promote aging in place among older adults living in poverty and older Black Americans. The results of this proposal will inform whether larger-scale testing of this new model of care is warranted.