Summer 2025

Spotlight on Success: Rethinking Person-Centered HCBS

Researchers in the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Home and Community-based Services (RRTC on HCBS) at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab want to know: What makes certain HCBS providers exceptional at providing person-centered services? Early findings point to strong organizational cultures, staff support and a deep commitment to person-first values.

Policy Brief: Supporting America's Family Caregivers

The vast majority of Americans with long-term care needs rely on family caregivers to provide essential support at home and in communities.

A new policy brief, entitled "Supporting America's 53 Million Family Caregivers," provides an overview of the family caregiver experience. The brief is authored by Conor Callahan, MSW, senior policy associate at ADvancing States, in collaboration with the RRTC on HCBS at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab. It also offers insights about available options and funding mechanisms for caregiver support, as well as steps policymakers and healthcare professionals can take to support this critical population.

In addition to the full policy brief, a clear and accessible plain language summary is available with key findings and recommendations.

Read the Policy Brief

Interested in learning more? Listen to this episode of our INSide the OUTcomes podcast to hear from Conor about family caregiving and his own experiences as a caregiver.

Meet Bob Sattler, a Champion for Person-centered Support

Bob Sattler is a partner at Support Development Associates, which supports organizations and agencies in providing person-centered HCBS. His lifelong dedication to disability inclusion began at age 16 and has shaped a career focused on dignity, independence, and person-centered supports. Now, partnering with Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, Bob is helping to develop a new training for direct support professionals that uses motivational interviewing to promote the delivery of person-centered HCBS.

Meet Bob

Nonmedical Quality-of-life Concepts in HCBS:

Focus Group Findings

Researchers in the RRTC on HCBS at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab have identified nine nonmedical quality-of-life concepts thanks to discussions and in-depth focus groups with individuals receiving HCBS. These concepts are guiding the development of new person-centered outcome measures for HCBS. Findings from the focus groups are published in Disability and Health Journal.

Understanding Risk Adjustment in HCBS Quality Measurement

As demand grows for HCBS to support people with disabilities in living independently, measuring the quality and effectiveness of these services is more important than ever. A new brief, authored by Anne Deutsch, RN, PhD, a research scientist at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, and Steven Lutzky, PhD, president of HCBS Strategies, offers a clear, nontechnical overview of risk adjustment — a method used to ensure fair comparisons of outcomes across providers serving diverse populations.

Read the Brief

Get Involved in Our Research!

We are seeking current and former HCBS recipients to test survey questions designed to measure the person-centeredness of their services.

Eligible participants will complete two or more one-hour surveys online or via phone or Zoom about their experiences with HCBS and what is important to them.

See if You are Eligible

LITERATURE CORNER

A curated roundup of recent HCBS-related articles for our readers to enjoy

Overhauling US Long-Term Services and Supports: Looking Toward Japan . Datta M, Neiman JH, Boucher NA, Gheith, JM. Journal of Applied Gerontology. June 2025.

5 Key Facts About Medicaid Coverage for People 50 and Older. Wolk A, Burns A. KFF. June 2025.

Comparing Outcomes Among Medicaid Home and Community-based Service Users: Private Homes vs. Assisted Living Facilities. Kim H, Courchaine K, Senders A, Sergei C, Dodge HH, Konetzka RT. Health Services Research. May 2025.

Home and Community-based Service Use Among Veterans: The National Landscape . Miller KEM, Price M, O'Malley K, Song S, Garrido MM. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. May 2025.

The Role of Community Health Workers in Enhancing Home and Community-based Services in American Indian Communities. Basrai ZK, Yoon CY, Tsosie V, Bell RA, Boucher NA. PEC Innovation. April 2025.

HCBS Quality Matters is produced by the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) on Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) in the Center for Rehabilitation Outcomes Research (CROR) at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab. It is supported by a grant from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR grant 90RTGE0004). The contents of this newsletter do not necessarily represent the policy of NIDILRR.

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