Integrating age-friendly principles into behavioral health treatment at an Oklahoma VA health system
Oklahoma City VA Medical Center
Oklahoma City, Okla.
The Oklahoma City VA Health Care System is integrating Age-Friendly Health Systems principles into care for older veterans within its Geriatric Inpatient Mental Health Unit, helping ensure treatment is aligned with what matters most to each patient. Focusing on the 4Ms framework — what matters, medication, mentation and mobility — the team has strengthened interdisciplinary care planning, personalized treatment and patient safety. Their efforts support veterans with complex medical and behavioral health needs while advancing the health system’s goal of delivering more age-friendly, recovery-oriented care.
The system’s efforts have already produced measurable results. The use of nonpharmacological behavioral intervention plans for veterans with dementia led to a 35% reduction in behavioral incidents, while a nursing-led hydration project helped reduce falls by improving mobility and overall well-being. The health system also developed an Age-Friendly Warm Huddle discharge protocol to improve care transitions and continuity of care between assisted living or nursing homes.
The AHA has published an in-depth case study of the unit that has positioned the organization as a leader in age-friendly veteran care across the Veterans Administration.