A Pitt Nursing student engages with a patient.
The Jewish Healthcare Foundation (JHF) and Health Careers Futures have received a new $1.2 million grant from The John A. Hartford Foundation (JAHF) to launch A National Strategy to Improve Nursing Home Quality: The Teaching Nursing Homes Model, Phase III, a national initiative that will engage 1,500 nursing homes over the next three years to expand nursing student placements, strengthen academic-practice partnerships, and advance age-friendly care across the US.
The announcement comes as JHF and its partners celebrate the successful completion of Phase II of the Revisiting the Teaching Nursing Home: The Teaching Nursing Home Collaborative, a three-year initiative that exceeded key goals across Pennsylvania. Partners from across the country and the state gathered virtually on June 16 for the initiative's final site visit to reflect on accomplishments and discuss priorities for the next phase of this transformative work.
Building on a model that engaged Pennsylvania nursing homes and schools of nursing, Phase III will expand the Collaborative's reach nationwide while supporting 500 nursing homes in achieving Age-Friendly Health Systems recognition. The initiative will also support the development and consideration of strategies to support the frontline workforce and advance a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services age-friendly nursing home quality measure, in collaboration with another JAHF grantee, the Moving Forward Nursing Home Quality Coalition.
“The Teaching Nursing Home Collaborative has fostered creative academic-practice partnerships that give us a clear pathway for strengthening nursing education while ensuring residents receive age-friendly care based on the 4Ms Framework,” said Rani E. Snyder, President, The John A. Hartford Foundation. “We are proud to support JHF and this initiative, which has made remarkable progress in Pennsylvania and is now poised for national spread.”
Phase II focused on expanding academic-practice partnerships between nursing homes and schools of nursing throughout Pennsylvania while supporting nursing homes in implementing the Age-Friendly Health Systems 4Ms Framework—What Matters, Medication, Mentation, and Mobility. The Pennsylvania Teaching Nursing Home Collaborative served as the primary vehicle for disseminating these practices statewide.
Nancy Zionts, JHF consultant, served as the principal investigator for Phases I and II of the initiative and will continue in that role for Phase III. Project partners included the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing, Penn State Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, Presbyterian SeniorCare’s The Willows, Canterbury Place, Centre Care, Wesley Enhanced Living Main Line, LeadingAge, Pennsylvania Association of Directors of Nursing Administration, the Pennsylvania Higher Education Nursing Schools Association, and the Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medical Association.
By the conclusion of Phase II, the Collaborative had surpassed several major goals. The initiative engaged 449 Pennsylvania nursing homes, exceeding its goal of 400 facilities, and connected with 31 schools of nursing, surpassing its target of 30 programs. An additional 88 “Friends of the Collaborative” participants—including professional organizations as well as nursing homes and schools from 29 states—joined the effort.
The Collaborative also partnered with JHF's Pennsylvania Long-Term Care Learning Network to develop 17 webinars focused on Age-Friendly Health Systems. Through collaboration with the Pennsylvania Long-Term Care Resiliency, Infrastructure Supports, and Empowerment (PA LTC RISE) program, nursing homes received both educational and hands-on implementation support.
As a result, Pennsylvania has seen a dramatic increase in Age-Friendly Health Systems recognition among nursing homes. More than 200 nursing homes achieved Level 1 recognition—nearly double the project's goal of 102—and 64 advanced to Level 2 recognition.
The initiative's success was driven by strong collaboration among academic and clinical partners. Together, participants developed clinical assignment templates for nursing student rotations in nursing homes, created continuing education opportunities for nursing faculty, promoted the Collaborative through professional networks, and advanced scholarship through a dedicated writing group.
Partners from across the country and state convened June 16 for the initiative’s final site visit to reflect on accomplishments and discuss priorities for the next phase.
Beyond the numbers, participants shared stories illustrating the initiative's impact on students, residents, and nursing home staff.
“What I find most impactful is exposing students to the role a nurse can play in the day-to-day life of an older adult when they are not acutely ill,” said Megan Kazakoff, DNP, AGNP-C, RN, CNE, faculty member at the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing. “While focusing on communication and concepts like quality of life, the learner gets to see a human and not a patient.”
For nursing students, the experience reshaped their understanding of person-centered care. One student reflected, “One of the most important things I did in the nursing home during the in-person activity was learning the value of listening to my patients' stories. These conversations provided insight into who they are beyond their needs and reminded me that every patient has a unique life experience.”
Nursing home residents also spoke to the meaningful relationships formed through student engagement. One resident shared, “My students don't see me as a handicapped individual, but an individual who uses a handicap to get around and that's that.”
Nursing home leader Mary Supey, who championed this work at The Meadows in Dallas, Pa., emphasized the importance of partnership. While collaborative work can be challenging, she said, “it was our mutual respect that was the key to our success. I was so impressed with the students and their creativity, their patience, and their wanting to get to know me as an individual and as a person.”
The University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health will continue its independent evaluation of the initiative through December 2026 to help capture lessons learned and inform future efforts.
With support from The John A. Hartford Foundation, Phase III will build on this momentum to advance a national strategy for improving nursing home quality through nursing education and the broader adoption of age-friendly care practices.
“JHF is grateful to The John A. Hartford Foundation for its continued partnership and investment in reimagining nursing homes as premier workplaces and learning environments that support the existing workforce and prepare the next generation of nurses to improve care for older adults,” Dr. Feinstein said. “The success of Phase II demonstrates the power of bringing educators and nursing home leaders together to improve care, strengthen the workforce, and elevate the nursing home as a vital learning environment.”
