Sarah Szanton recognized for her aging in place intervention

Professor in Community-Public Health among SON community members recently honored

Sarah L. Szanton, a professor in the Department of Community-Public Health and director of the school's PhD program, has been named an American Academy of Nursing Edge Runner for her Community Aging in Place: Advancing Better Living for Elders intervention, known by the acronym Capable. The honor recognizes nurses and models of care that improve health, impact cost, and influence policy.

Portrait photo of Sarah Szanton

Image caption: Sarah Szanton

"Along with my colleagues and my extraordinary participants, I am honored to be designated an American Academy of Nursing Edge Runner," Szanton says. "Our goal is to test ways to help older adults age where and how they would like. We are thrilled that this approach also has long-term sustainability and cost savings. I'm grateful for the Academy's support and the privilege to continue such meaningful work."

Through a multidisciplinary approach based primarily on increasing patient strength, mobility, and house safety, Capable combines home visits from a nurse, occupational therapist, and handyman to enable low-income older adults to live more comfortably and safely in their homes.

Results show that the program improves self-care of participants and decreases disability and depression while saving costs to Medicaid and Medicare. The intervention has been expanded to 16 cities in nine states and has received funding from the National Institutes of Health, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services Innovation Center, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and the Rita and Alex Hillman Foundation.

More from the School of Nursing

Ashley Gresh, a doctoral student, has been selected for the Johns Hopkins Global Women's Health Fellowship. The program pairs an OB/GYN physician with an advanced practice nurse for collaborative interprofessional learning and research. The two-year postgraduate training program addresses critical women's health issues and sustainable health solutions in low- and middle-income countries.

Vickie Hughes, an assistant professor in the Department of Community-Public Health, has been appointed to serve on the 2018 American Organization of Nurse Executives' Education Committee. In that role, she will help advise the organization's education offerings, focusing on online learning opportunities and emergent issues affecting nursing leadership and next year's education goals.

Phyllis Sharps, a professor and associate dean for community initiatives and programs, has earned Modern Healthcare's Diversity in Nursing Award. The accolade is part of the organization's 2018 Excellence in Nursing awards and recognizes Sharps' commitment to advancing diversity within the nursing profession.

The Johns Hopkins School of Nursing has been selected as the 2018 recipient of the Institutional Award for Excellence in Promoting Cardiovascular Care from the Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association.

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