Using the 4 Ms of Geriatric Care for Aging Patients with Heart Failure

The population is aging, and aging is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease broadly and heart failure specifically, which together point to a significant need for understanding how to care for this growing population of older adults with heart failure. The 4 Ms framework, from the Institute for Healthcare Improvement and the John A. Hartford Foundation, seeks to address the needs pertinent to older adults with complex medical conditions by integrating: 1) What Matters; 2) Medications; 3) Mentation; and 4) Mobility. In addition, the domain management approach for the care of older adults with heart failure describes 4 key domains relevant to patient care—the medical domain, the mind and emotion domain, the functional domain, and the social domain. This session will provide an overview of applying the 4 Ms and essential geriatric principles of care for older adults with heart failure. The session will also discuss gaps in understanding and areas for future research.

Learning Objectives

• Describe the Age-Friendly Health Systems 4Ms Framework and the Domain Management Approach
• Identify strategies to optimize mobility and cognitive function in older adults with heart failure
• Apply strategies to optimize medications and overall care based on what matters most to older adults with heart failure