Staying healthy is an important part of maintaining quality of life as we age. But chronic illnesses, such as heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, and depression, can make this goal difficult to achieve. Many older adults find themselves restricted in their physical activity or social lives because of chronic illness, which can result in isolation and loneliness.
Chronic Disease Self-Management Education (CDSME) programs can combat the negative effects of chronic illness by giving older adults the skills and confidence to better manage their conditions .
NCOA, in partnership with the Administration for Community Living (ACL), implements CDSME programs nationwide to support adults with chronic illnesses as they age. These programs are licensed under an agency called the “Self-Management Resource Center” developed at Stanford University:
- The Stanford Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (CDSMP)
- Diabetes Self-Management Program (DSMP)
- Tomando Control de su Salud
Between 2010 and 2024, more than 530,000 people participated in these programs and were surveyed about their experience. These responses have been analyzed to help us better understand the positive impact that CDSME programs have on older adults with chronic illnesses.
Purpose of evidence-based programs ROI assessment report: CDSME programs
This report presents a comprehensive assessment of the return on investment (ROI) of evidence-based CDSME programs. It was created to help inform policymakers about the health and economic value of CDSME programs. The report:
- Measures changes in participant health and behavior following program participation
- Estimates the health care cost savings associated with those changes
- Calculates the return on federal investment in CDSME programming
- Offers actionable recommendations to support program expansion and sustainability
Key findings: CDSME programs improve health and save money
The results of this analysis show that participation in a CDSME program has positive impacts on older adults’ well-being. Participants experienced marked improvements in the following key areas following completion of a CDSME program:
- Increased sense of general health (6%)
- Greater confidence in managing their health (4%)
- Small decrease in feelings of loneliness (-1.4%)
- No meaningful change in social isolation
| Outcome Measured | Before the Program | After the Program | Change | What This Means |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Health | 2.53 | 2.69 | 6% improvement | Participants reported feeling healthier overall |
| Self-Efficacy | 7.72 | 8.00 | 4% improvement | Greater confidence in managing their own health |
| Loneliness | 2.22 | 2.19 | 1.4% reduction | Small decrease in feelings of loneliness |
| Isolation | 2.06 | 2.05 | No signficant change | No meaningful change in social isolation |
The CDSME programs also demonstrated a reduction in the financial burden on our health care system, since the increase in self-management and social connection can help older adults to rely less on traditional medical frameworks like urgent cares or emergency rooms.
CDSME is a high-value, low-cost intervention that supports healthier aging, with demonstrable benefits for people, communities, and health care systems.
