For adults 60 years and older — a rapidly growing population in the U.S. — the prevalence of chronic conditions and disabilities is notably high. The demand for cost-effective strategies to manage chronic diseases is more urgent than ever. Through evidence-based chronic disease self-management education (CDSME) programs, older adults and adults with disabilities gain practical skills, knowledge, and confidence to better manage conditions like diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, and chronic pain.
What makes CDSME programs unique?
CDSME programs transform lives by offering more than traditional medical approaches. Workshops provide peer support in comfortable, accessible community settings, where participants learn practical skills and connect with others to empower them to manage their health more proactively. Participants typically meet for two hours per week for six to eight weeks.
While each local program is unique, they are all:
- Evidence-based and improve health outcomes — grounded in research and proven to make a difference.
- Led by trained peers with lived experience — facilitators can relate personally and simplify complex health information.
- Empowering self-management — helping participants build skills and confidence to manage their own health
- Flexible and personalized — adapting to individual needs, health conditions, and delivery methods (ranging from in-person groups to online self-directed)
Program impact
Chronic conditions significantly impact older adults’ quality of life, health care needs, and financial well-being. Older adults with multiple chronic and mental health conditions account for over 75% of the nation’s health care expenditures every year, and this burden is poised to escalate.
CDSME programs can deliver measurable cost savings to the U.S. health care system. Studies show that participants have an average savings of just over $700 from reduced emergency room visits and hospitalizations. If just 10% of Americans with chronic conditions participated in these programs, the potential savings could reach $6.6 billion.
For CDSME program participants, the positive impact is clear. Managing their conditions effectively can improve health outcomes and reduce health care expenses, while providing skills that complement their medical care.
CDSME participants experience many positive improvements in their lives. They report:
- Feeling healthier
- Managing symptoms better
- Leading more active lives
- Feeling less depressed
- Having a better quality of life
- Experiencing fewer sick days
- Communicating better with health providers
- Being better about taking medications
These improvements are significant for many reasons, not the least of which is saving money for participants. Health problems can quickly drain a person’s savings and income, especially as they age. And people with lower incomes often spend a larger portion of their money on health care, leaving less money for housing and food, which can worsen their health conditions.
“Positive attitudes from facilitators helped motivate me to make changes to food, exercise, and socializing. I use stress management to develop realistic action plans for changes.” -Participant, Diabetes Self-Management Program
Building capacity, expanding access, and improving outcomes
Since 2003, federally funded Chronic Disease Self-Management Education (CDSME) grantees have been working to expand access to evidence-based programs nationwide. These efforts are supported through competitive funding opportunities and awards provided to states under Title III-D of the Older Americans Act. ACL furthers this work through cooperative agreements with state agencies, area agencies on aging, nonprofits, universities, and tribal entities.
These investments help communities deliver affordable, evidence-based services to older adults and adults with disabilities, ensuring programs are accessible, scalable, and grounded in proven strategies. As a result, individuals experience improved health outcomes and quality of life.
Grantees undertake a wide range of activities to build capacity and bring programs to scale, including:
- Partnering with area agencies on aging, local health departments, rural clinics, and hospitals to deliver programs
- Targeting self-management interventions to support individuals affected by chronic pain and opioid use
- Documenting health care savings through health information exchange systems
- Engaging volunteers to expand program reach and strengthen community health
Both competitive and state-directed funding are critical in strengthening partnerships, developing sustainable models, and generating tools and insights that can be shared across the national network. These efforts collectively accelerate impact, expand reach, and improve outcomes nationwide.
- FY 2024 Grants
-
In 2024, AoA awarded 4 fully-funded cooperative agreements (four-year project period) totaling approximately $2,399,993 and 1 fully funded cooperative agreement (three-year project period) for $3,260,699, for a total of $5,660,692.
FY 2024 Grants
Grantee Award Amount Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KS) $600,000 Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (PA) $3,260,699 Puerto Rico Department of Health (PR) $599,993 Shasta Community Health Center (CA) $600,000 University of Louisville Research Foundation – Trager Institute (KY) $600,000 - FY 2023 Grants
-
In 2023, AoA awarded 8 fully-funded cooperative agreements (four-year project period) totaling approximately $ 4,793,731.
FY 2023 Grants
Grantee Award Amount Cherry Street Services/Cherry Health (Michigan) $600,000.00 Christian City, Inc (Georgia) $600,000.00 Delta Health Alliance (Mississippi) $599,923.00
Michigan State University Extension (Michigan) $599,889.00
New Mexico Diabetes Advisory Council (New Mexico) $599,288.00
Rural Health Network of South Central New York (New York) $599,844.00
Texas A&M University (Texas) $595,257.00
The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston (Texas) $599,530.00 - FY 2022 Grants
-
In 2022, AoA awarded 9 fully-funded cooperative agreements (three-year project period) totaling approximately $6 million.
FY 2022 Grants
Grantee Award Amount Education Health and Research International, Inc. (Delaware) $673,021 Rush University Medical Center (Illinois) $671,820 National Kidney Foundation of Michigan $673,024 Innovations for Aging, LLC (Minnesota) $673,014 Comagine Health (Nevada) $672,956 Lamprey Healthcare, Inc. (New Hampshire) $630,300 University of North Carolina at Asheville $660,189 Rhode Island Parent Information Network $673,035 University of Wyoming Center on Aging $672,641 - FY 2021 Grants
-
In 2021, AoA awarded 8 forward-funded cooperative agreements (three-year project period) totaling approximately $6.1 million.
FY 2021 Grants
Grantee Award Amount AgeOptions, Inc. (Illinois) $1,261,378.00 MAC, Inc. (Maryland) $269,125.00 Central Maine Area Agency on Aging (Maine) $1,236,921.00 Mid-America Regional Council (Missouri) $1,261,377.00 Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (Nebraska) $270,294.00 Cherokee County Health Services Council (Oklahoma) $268,514.00 Comagine Health (Oregon) $1,261,267.00 Pennsylvania Department of Aging (Pennsylvania) $270,295.00 - FY 2020 Grants
-
In 2020, AoA awarded 10 forward-funded cooperative agreements (three-year project period) totaling $6.4 million. Read about 2020 CDSME Grantees’ Impact on older adults.
FY 2020 Grants
Grantee Award Amount Atlanta Regional Commission $300,000 University of Nevada Reno $299,333 Elder Services of the Merrimack Valley $1,458,567 Health Promotion Council of Southeast PA $300,000 Metropolitan Community Health Services $300,000 Mid-Florida Area Agency on Aging Inc. $300,000 Partners In Care Foundation, Inc. $1,398,271 Presbyterian Healthcare Services $299,513 Rush University Medical Center $299,961 Sanford Health $1,457,938 - Accordion title
-
Accordion content.
- FY 2019 Grants
-
In 2019, AoA awarded 11 forward-funded cooperative agreements (three-year project period) totaling $6.4 million.
FY 2019 Grants
Grantee Award Amount Community Council of Greater Dallas $836,034 Florida Department of Elder Affairs $150,000 Idaho Commission on Aging $150,000 Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine $819,237 Metropolitan Community Health Services, Inc. $150,000 National Kidney Foundation of Michigan $835,083 New York State Office for the Aging $837,823 Rush University Medical Center $149,925 South Dakota State University $811,330 University of North Carolina at Asheville $836,121 Washington State Department of Social and Health Services $837,823 - FY 2018 Grants
-
In 2018, AoA awarded 10 forward-funded cooperative agreements (three-year project period) totaling $6.6 million.
FY 2018 Grants
Grantee Award Amount Center on Mental Health Services Research and Policy at the University of Illinois at Chicago $838,425 Central Maine Area Agency on Aging $853,425 Innovations for Aging, LLC (MN) $863,425 MAC Incorporated (MD) $863,425 Middle Alabama Area Agency on Aging $813,425 Missouri Association of Area Agencies on Aging $838,425 Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services $150,000 Open Hand Atlanta $149,042 The Curators of the University of Missouri $149,544 Wyoming State Department of Health $853,425 - FY 2017 Grants
-
FY 2017 Grants
Grantee Award Amount AgeOptions, Inc. (IL) $850,000 Big Sandy Health Care, Inc. (KY) $677,120 Elder Services of the Merrimack Valley (MA) $804,136 Health Foundation of South Florida $757,590 Partners in Care Foundation, Inc. (CA) $850,000 Rhode Island Department of Health $850,000 Utah Department of Health $764,750 Wisconsin Institute for Healthy Aging $845,851
National CDSME Resource Center
This ACL-funded center raises awareness about the impact of chronic conditions on older adults and supports the implementation of evidence-based health promotion programs across the nation. It also provides information, resources, and technical assistance to build the capacity of the national aging services network. The resource center synthesizes insights from grantees nationwide, creating valuable resources based on:
- Implementation challenges and solutions
- Emerging opportunities in program delivery
- National patterns and trends across communities
- Best practices for program sustainability and growth
This approach allows organizations to benefit from collective experiences, adopt proven strategies, and accelerate speed to market with new initiatives — ultimately improving program efficiency and expanding reach to serve more older adults with chronic conditions.
Find a program near you
To find a CDSME program, contact your local area agency on aging or visit the Eldercare Locator. Organizations interested in offering CDSME programs can contact the National CDSME Resource Center.