In recognition of its successful collaboration with a health care system, we are proud to announce that the Southern Maine Agency on Aging (SMAA) is the first winner of The John A. Hartford Foundation Business Innovation Award. We congratulate SMAA for its bold, transformative work to improve the quality of life for older adults and/or people with disabilities through this sustainable business partnership.

The award was presented recently at the annual conference of the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a), which–along with its partners at the American Society on Aging (ASA), Independent Living Research Utilization/National Center for Aging and Disability, Elder Services of the Merrimack Valley/Healthy Living Center of Excellence, and Partners in Care Foundation—is working under a three-year John A. Hartford Foundation grant to support an initiative to successfully build and strengthen partnerships between social service agencies and health care systems and health plans. The goal is to expand access by older adults to evidence-based programs that help them live with dignity and independence in their homes and communities as long as possible.

Rani Snyder, right, presents the first John A. Hartford Foundation Business Innovation Award to Larry Gross, CEO of the Southern Maine Agency on Aging.

SMAA was nominated by the MaineHealth Accountable Care Organization, whose CEO, Dr. Elizabeth Johnson, wrote the following:

Under the tremendous leadership of Larry Gross and through the dedication of his employees, the Maine Health ACO rarely thinks of optimal care delivery without thinking about the influence of our close and trusted partner, Southern Maine Agency on Aging.

The Southern Maine Agency on Aging created efficient workflows and secure communications to capitalize on inter-agency strengths when sharing patient care responsibilities.

Mr. Gross supported embedding SMAA-employed care transition personnel into the staff at the ACO.

SMAA staff and ACO staff operated as a cohesive operating unit in support of the community.

SMAA has enabled trusted partnerships to support patients receiving care within the community they reside by innovating and delivering expertise with such programs as Chronic Disease Self-Management, Matter of Balance, Simply Delivered Meals and initiating conversations with and completing Advanced Directives for ACO patients within their trusted practices.

Rani Snyder, program director of The John A. Hartford Foundation, presented the award to Larry Gross, CEO of SMAA, at the annual conference of the n4a conference in San Diego.

With John A. Hartford Foundation support, n4a and its partners are creating a National Aging and Disability Business Center that will help more organizations follow in the footsteps of SMAA. This work builds on a collaboration with the Administration for Community Living (ACL) and a group of foundations that is providing technical assistance to aging services network members in 20 communities so they can build their business acumen and work more effectively with health care providers, fill in service gaps, and meet the needs of older adults.

In this first year of offering the Business Innovation Award, we received 15 applications. Two nominees received honorable mentions:

The National Aging and Disability Business Center will provide the central information and assistance hub for organizations that seek to develop their business acumen in order to improve care, reduce costs, and achieve sustainability.

We congratulate all the nominees for their innovation and leadership. And we encourage other community-based organizations to strengthen their business innovation activities, and seek out new opportunities to be positioned for the future. The National Aging and Disability Business Center will provide the central information and assistance hub for organizations that seek to develop their business acumen in order to improve care, reduce costs, and achieve sustainability.

We hope that all of our readers will keep us posted on the activities of agencies like SMAA so that we can highlight them through the center.

Congratulations to the Southern Maine Agency on Aging, whom we again thank for a commitment to its community, and leadership in pursuing innovation to serve older adults and people with disabilities.