In rural communities across the country, community health workers (CHWs) are often the trusted bridge between older adults and the health care system. They know that meaningful conversations — the kind that uncover what truly matters to individuals — can transform care. Yet too often, those conversations are rushed, fragmented, or overshadowed by clinical checklists that don’t reflect the patient’s voice.
My Health Checklist was created to change that. Designed specifically for older adults, the checklist helps them reflect on their health, identify what’s going well, and prioritize the questions and concerns that matter most. For CHWs and providers, it becomes a practical tool to make appointments more efficient, effective, and centered on the older adult.
The checklist aligns seamlessly with the daily work of CHWs, who walk alongside older adults to prepare for health care conversations. It empowers individuals to speak up, supports caregivers in listening more deeply, and gives providers a framework to deliver age‑friendly care rooted in the 4Ms: What Matters, Medication, Mentation, and Mobility.
With this in mind, 15 rural CHWs and trainers affiliated with the National Rural Health Association (NRHA) joined a 13‑week community of practice, hosted by NRHA and IHI, with support provided by AARP. Together, they explored how My Health Checklist could be used in their communities — from Alabama to Hawaii, Missouri to Oregon — each with unique challenges and strengths. Their shared goal: to learn, adapt, and bring this tool to life in rural settings where CHWs are vital to ensuring older adults receive care that truly reflects their needs.
Following are seven learnings from the CHWs about ways to share My Health Checklist with older adults and those who support them:
- Start personally! Several participants have shared My Health Checklist with their parents. (Our Kupuna, USA Health Mitchell Cancer Institute, New Mexico Department of Health Office of Border Health)
- Share the checklist with a support group. For example, provide it as a resource for cancer patients who are moving into survivorship. (USA Health Mitchell Cancer Institute)
- At clinics, use My Health Checklist during Open Enrollment Period. (Arkansas Rural Health Partnership)
- Some CHWs already have questionnaires they print at their home clinic, bring to a visit, and then ask older adults the questions and fill them out on the spot (for example, a questionnaire to ask about concerns related to mood and social isolation). My Health Checklist can be used the same way. Caregivers are also part of this conversation. CHWs are embedded members of primary care provider team, so they may fill out My Health Checklist with the older adult and then bring it back to the care team at the clinic. (Connected Care for Older Adults).
- A team included it in a monthly newsletter. Share it as a helpful resource. Messaging that encourages agency is important. For those interested, mail out the checklist ahead of time and say, “let’s look at this together,” and then chat on the phone. In other cases, a volunteer who is on-site can share a copy in person and help the older adult complete the checklist. (Our Kupuna)
- CHWs have engaged with senior centers. They shared My Health Checklist at a health fair for older adults. The CHWs distributed the checklists to over 50 people at the event, providing one-on-one education and support. They passed out the checklist at a table and pulled individuals aside to talk about it. The team plans to return to the senior centers for further education sessions. (New Mexico Department of Health Office of Border Health,)
- Share with Veterans. A participant gave My Health Checklist to the clinic and followed up with the medical director, who is excited to use it. (Rising Phoenix)
Patty Webster, MPH, is an Improvement Advisor and Faculty at the Institute for Healthcare Improvement. Lynn Mertz, PhD, is Senior Strategic Policy Advisor at AARP. Cayla Saret, MPH, is a Senior Managing Editor at IHI.
Photo by Centre for Ageing Better on Unsplash.
You may also be interested in:
- My Health Checklist, developed by IHI with support from The John A. Hartford Foundation
- Videos and resources from AARP about shared decision making with My Health Checklist