Scaling a network of small community-based care homes as a high-value alternative to institutional care

About This Grant

The United States faces a severe long-term services and supports (LTSS) crisis as the senior population grows rapidly, with the number of seniors expected to nearly double by 2060. Approximately 70% of these individuals will require some form of LTSS, putting unprecedented pressure on a system that is already costly and strained. Traditional nursing homes, while necessary, frequently exceed $100,000 annually per patient and often lead to issues such as social isolation, high readmission rates, and lower resident satisfaction. The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the fragility of these centralized care models, which saw higher infection rates, limited adaptability, and increasing burdens on families and health systems. There is an urgent need for cost-effective, high-quality, and scalable non-institutional LTSS alternatives that are adaptable to the needs of seniors. Homecare Hub (HCH) offers an innovative solution through its network of small, community-based 2-12 person residential care homes. By creating a technology and services platform that allows caring nurses and caregivers to create new supply of high-quality small care homes, and then connecting seniors to these new and existing vetted small homes that deliver personalized, cost-effective care, HCH aims to provide a decentralized, supportive alternative to institutional LTSS. This model leverages a robust technology platform to monitor real-time bed availability in the network of homes, facilitate efficient patient transitions, and uphold high standards of quality. This makes HCH a natural fit within the healthcare ecosystem. HCH’s solution has already demonstrated notable success, achieving reduced hospital readmissions, shorter lengths of stay, and high family satisfaction across multiple pilot studies. The project’s specific aims are: 1) to demonstrate improved health outcomes for seniors by tracking measures in physical health (chronic disease management), mental health, and overall well-being, as well as reductions in ER visits and re-admissions; 2) to quantify the cost-effectiveness of HCH’s model through comparative analyses with traditional LTSS, showing potential for significant healthcare savings; and 3) to highlight how this model supports enhanced hospital throughput and transitions by enabling faster, more efficient and higher quality discharges. By fostering a model that addresses both the financial and human challenges of LTSS, HCH is poised to make a transformative impact on the healthcare system, providing a sustainable, person-centered approach to senior care that enhances quality, reduces costs, and aligns with the future of value-based healthcare.