St. Joseph Agency Joins National Hub to Revolutionize Elder Care

The Region IV Area Agency on Aging, representing Michigan in a national network of eight community care hubs, was selected as a winner in the Health at Home Challenge. This federal competition, managed by the Administration for Community Living, tasks participants with reducing hospital readmissions and lowering care costs for older adults and individuals with disabilities. By leveraging a single AthenaOne electronic medical record system, the consortium plans to use AI-driven analytics to identify health risks before they lead to emergency room visits.

For residents of Berrien, Cass, and Van Buren counties, the initiative formalizes a long-standing partnership with Corewell Health. The program focuses on bridging the gap between clinical settings and community-based support, such as fall prevention, nutritional assistance, and transitions from nursing facilities back to independent living. CEO Christine Vanlandingham noted that this collaboration shifts the local landscape from fragmented services to a unified support network. The team has now entered the second phase of the challenge, which runs through July 2027, with the potential to advance to a final scaling round next summer.