HIGHLIGHTS
- HUD wanted to assess the implementation of its IWISH model for supporting aging in place.
- Abt assessed the outcomes of IWISH implementation at more than 40 sites.
- Results are forthcoming.
The Challenge
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) designed the Integrated Wellness in Supportive Housing (IWISH) model to help elderly adults in HUD-assisted multifamily housing age in place. New staff at IWISH sites—full-time Resident Wellness Directors and part-time Wellness Nurses—follow a person-centered approach to engaging residents in activities designed to help residents improve their health and wellness, resulting in reduced use of emergency medical services, delayed transitions to nursing homes, and greater housing stability. HUD wanted to understand how properties implemented the IWISH model and what effect the model had on residents.
The Approach
Abt used administrative data matching, interviews, site visits, and focus groups to evaluate the implementation of IWISH and its impact on healthcare utilization for Medicare as well as for Medicaid beneficiaries and their housing stability. The study has a randomized control trial design, with 40 properties in the treatment group implementing IWISH and 84 control properties.
The Results
Results are forthcoming.
Related Publications:
- Supporting Aging in Place Through IWISH: Results from the First Phase of the Supportive Services Demonstration (Dec. 2022)
- Supporting Aging in Place Through IWISH: Issue Brief (Dec. 2022)
- Supporting Aging in Place Through IWISH: Second Interim Report from the Evaluation of the Supportive Services Demonstration
- Supporting Aging in Place Through IWISH: First Interim Report from the Supportive Services Demonstration
- IWISH Impact Study Research Design & Analysis Plan
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