Home- and community-based services (HCBS) help older adults and people with disabilities live in their own homes and communities, yet the term lacks a shared definition. The SCAN Foundation and the Human Services Research Institute (HSRI) reviewed 229 definitions to build a payer-neutral consensus definition—one intentionally grounded in choice, autonomy, and self-direction. The authors argue common language can help measure what works and hold programs accountable, though it alone won't fix workforce shortages or funding gaps.

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