CAPABLE pilot in Colorado showed lower ADL/IADL needs; department exploring waiver integration

Presenters described ARPA 4.05, a pilot of the CAPABLE (Community Aging in Place: Advancing Better Living for Elders) model, and shared evaluation results the department says indicate improved participant functioning.

Karina from the Office of Community Living said the pilot ran from January 2023 to August 2024 and expanded CAPABLE services beyond the Denver metro area into El Paso, Larimer, Weld, Park and Teller counties through two grantees: the Colorado Visiting Nurses Association and Brothers Redevelopment. "Overall, this grant had 368 Health First Colorado Medicaid members participate in over 10 counties aged 18 to 98," she said (the transcript shows the participation figure with spacing as "3 68").

Karina summarized evaluation outcomes: activities of daily living (ADLs) declined by about 24% and instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) declined by about 21% among participants. The evaluation judged statewide implementation feasible and recommended CAPABLE as a candidate for inclusion as part of a two-tiered home-modification waiver benefit. Both grantees have obtained limited additional funding to maintain CAPABLE services locally.

Why it matters: CAPABLE is an evidence-based interdisciplinary in-home program developed at Johns Hopkins that combines occupational therapy, nursing and handyman services to help participants set goals and remain independent in their homes. The department said CAPABLE may offer a more accountable alternative to existing home-modification services.

Next steps: the department said it will continue working with the CAPABLE national team and Johns Hopkins School of Nursing to explore adding CAPABLE as a Medicaid waiver service option; the full evaluation is posted on the ARPA website.