Funding provided by Civil Money Penalty Funds through the KY OIG and CMS

Nazareth Home and Nazareth Home−Clifton is partnering with It’s Never 2 Late (iN2L) for a groundbreaking palliative care program called Connected Affirmation Project (CAP). Nazareth Home was awarded over $200,000 for the CAP program from Civil Money Penalty (CMP) funds, through the Kentucky Office of Inspector General and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

Nazareth Home’s CAP program is the first of its kind in the U.S. by affirming the life of elders by utilizing iN2L technology to help tell their life-story and create a legacy keepsake for families. iN2L technology allows elders to use interactive tablets to stimulate intellectual curiosity with easy access to the internet, view personal photos and videos that prompt joyful memories and stay connected with family and friends. It also increases education and fosters communication about palliative care with residents, their families and Nazareth Home staff.

“This first-in-the-nation project represents our pioneer spirit and commitment to fostering person-centered care,” said Michael J. Buckman, director of development for Nazareth Home. “We appreciate iN2L as a partner that is willing to go outside the box with us. We chose to partner with It’s Never 2 Late not because of who they are, but rather who they want to be as a company. They have a culture of serving others.”

Palliative care is medical care that specializes in providing relief from the symptoms, pain and stress of a serious illness to improve the elder’s quality of life. It is provided by a team of compassionate caregivers who partner with the physician to deliver an extra, specialized layer of support.

Buckman noted that palliative care is often misunderstood, causing people who could benefit from this treatment to go without it. “Our goal is to educate the community of the benefits the CAP program offers, breaking down barriers that consider palliative care taboo and allowing more people with serious illnesses comfort and better quality of life.”

“iN2L is honored to be partnering with Nazareth Home in this meaningful project. For 20 years, we have been providing our engagement technology solutions to senior living communities throughout the United States. This is our first project 100% focused on palliative care,” said Jack York, president and co-founder of iN2L. “We will all learn from this project, and with the help of the Nazareth Home team we will provide meaningful comfort and engagement.”

“By finding new ways to meet today’s challenges, we make the lives of people around us better. Nazareth Home is proud to be a trailblazer for a palliative care program using the iN2L technology,” said Mary Haynes, president and CEO of Nazareth Home. “And we are grateful for the CMS grant and the opportunity it provides to develop the CAP program.”

CMS launched the Civil Money Penalty that benefit nursing home residents and that protect or improve their quality of care or quality of life.

“We are humbled and honored to have the Kentucky Office of Inspector General and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recognize our efforts to create community through innovative compassion. Receiving the CMP funds allows us to enhance our mission of person-centered care,” said Buckman.