CenterWell Introduces the Fulfillment Index, a New Measure of What It Means to Age Well

The CenterWell Fulfillment Index offers a new way to understand what drives wellbeing as people age

LOUISVILLE, Ky.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--CenterWell, the health care services business of Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM), today introduced the CenterWell Fulfillment Index, a new national measure to better understand what drives wellbeing as people age. The research reinforces that aging well is more than physical health alone, and that factors like purpose, emotional stability, connection, comfort, independence and security play an important role in how older adults experience their lives.

The CenterWell Fulfillment Index study data found that 54% of adults ages 62+ report feeling fulfilled in their lives, offering important insight into how healthy aging is experienced—and where additional support may be needed. The research also suggests that fulfillment can dip for some adults during the early retirement years (approximately ages 65–69), highlighting how important proactive support can be during life transitions.

Why the CenterWell Fulfillment Index matters

“As we help people live longer, we must focus just as much on helping them live well,” said Sanjay Shetty, M.D., President of CenterWell. “The CenterWell Fulfillment Index gives us a clearer way to measure what older adults say matters, so care teams can identify where additional support may be needed and tailor care around what patients value most.”

CenterWell's research shows that older adults define wellbeing broadly, with fulfillment shaped by purpose, emotional stability, social connection, comfort, and a sense of security in daily life. That insight underscores the importance of whole‑person support that addresses what older adults say matters most.

“For a long time, aging well has been discussed primarily in terms of physical health, but this research shows older adults define it differently,” said Joseph Coughlin, Ph.D., Director of the MIT AgeLab. “The CenterWell Fulfillment Index is valuable, because it captures multiple dimensions of life and helps illuminate how those factors can shift during key life transitions, including retirement.”

A simple measure designed to be used and built upon

To better understand and address these factors, CenterWell developed the Fulfillment Index, a tool built from 72 indicators that helps surface concerns traditional medical measures may overlook.

By making fulfillment measurable and trackable over time, the Index provides a practical resource that can help leaders, communities and care teams better understand where additional support may be needed, because fulfillment and health go hand in hand.

“Adding years to life matters most when we’re also supporting quality of life,” said Kerry Burnight, Ph.D., gerontologist and author of Joyspan: The Art and Science of Thriving in Life’s Second Half. “What I appreciate about the CenterWell Fulfillment Index is that it gives language and measurement to the lived experience of aging. That can help older adults, families, and care teams have earlier, more meaningful conversations about what support is needed to keep life engaging, connected, and on their own terms.”

How CenterWell is applying the Fulfillment Index

CenterWell’s care model reinforces the findings of the Fulfillment Index through coordinated experiences that put patients at the center—delivering accessible, comprehensive, and personalized care across senior-focused primary care, home health, and pharmacy.

The Fulfillment Index is a tool designed to keep improving how older adults are supported. CenterWell is working to make measuring fulfillment as routine as measuring blood pressure and part of a regular check-in that can help guide the right conversations and connect support at the right time.

To learn more about the CenterWell Fulfillment Index and read the full research report, visit www.CenterWell.com/CWFI.

About CenterWell

CenterWell is a leading health care services business focused on creating integrated and differentiated experiences that put our patients at the center of everything we do. The result is high quality health care that is accessible, comprehensive, and, most of all, personalized. As the largest provider of senior-focused primary care, a leading provider of home health care, and a leading integrated home delivery, specialty, hospice, and retail pharmacy, CenterWell is focused on whole health and addressing the physical, emotional and social wellness of our patients. CenterWell is part of Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM). Learn more about what we offer at CenterWell.com.