Research

Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation.
Principal Investigators: Heather Menne and Jennifer Kinney.
March 17, 2025 through December 31, 2025.

The Kott Gerontology Scholars Program (KGSP) provides internship scholarships to promising advanced degree graduate students interested in the aging field who are attending Chicagoland area universities. The KGSP encourages and supports graduate students in a variety of professional specializations to develop skills that will engage and prepare them to continue working with and on behalf of older adults after graduation. For this project, Scripps Gerontology Center will a) assess the impact of KGSP on scholars’ career trajectories and professional development and b) evaluate the engagement and effectiveness of KGSP with partners’ agencies. Findings will inform recommendations on future efforts to support students preparing to work with and on behalf of older adults.

Linked Senior Inc., pass through funds from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Principal Investigator: Anthony Sterns and Katherine Abbott
July 5, 2024 through June 30, 2026

For over 30 years, culture change initiatives have attempted to transition the way health care is provided from the medical model, where care is provided according to what works best for the organization and staff, to a person-centered model. Person-centered care is an approach that emphasizes “knowing the person” and honoring each individual’s preferences. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the largest payer of long-term services and supports (LTSS), has supported person-centered care (PCC) via federally mandated regulations. However, there continues to be a lack of progress in providing PCC to older adults receiving LTSS. Knowledge of a resident’s everyday care preferences provides the foundation for ongoing individualized care planning. Evidence suggests that individualized care is an important element in quality of life models and results in enhanced well-being. In addition, honoring preferences empowers residents/clients, helping them to maximize their potential for retaining relationships, capabilities, interests and skills by acknowledging what they prefer in the context of their strengths and needs. In order for providers to shift toward delivering PCC, they need timely, efficient methods to gauge whether consumers are satisfied that their preferences are being met while also identifying priorities for improvement. The Preference
Based Living research team has collaborated with Linked Senior, a resident engagement software platform, to build this software called Care Preference Assessment of Satisfaction or ComPASS-16™. ComPASS-16 combines mandated preference assessment with additional details for important preferences to integrate into the plan of care and facilitates asking consumers about how satisfied they are that their important preferences have been met as a quality assurance, performance improvement (QAPI) process measure. This project will focus on establishing the feasibility of overcoming institutional barriers and achieving preference-based care for the 1 million older adults who reside in nursing homes and over 800,000 who reside in assisted living communities through a demonstration of the impact of technology. 

USAging, pass through funds from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Principal Investigator: Heather Menne
October 1, 2024 through September 30, 2025

The ACL: Aging Network Care Navigation Services project collects national data on the care navigation activities of the national network of Area Agencies on Aging and Title VI organizations serving tribal elders, evaluates the delivery of care navigation services, and creates replication toolkit's for promising care navigation models.

Regents of the University of California, San Francisco, pass through funds from the National Institute on Aging
Principal Investigator: Suzanne Kunkel 
April 1, 2022 through January 31, 2026

Emory University, pass through funds from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Principal Investigator: John Bowblis
September 1, 2024 through May 31, 2025

This study will examine the role of memory care units in nursing homes and its interaction with race/ethnicity of residents and quality of care.

Council on Aging of Southwestern Ohio
Principal Investigator: Jonathon Vivoda
November 1, 2024 through October 31, 2025

The Council on Aging of Southwestern Ohio (COA) supports programs to help older adults in their service area. Within the COA’s service area, numerous individual providers deliver home care, home delivered meals, and transportation services. Satisfaction with such services is assessed using the Service Adequacy & Satisfaction Instrument (SASI) tool. In recent years, changes have allowed for clients to engage in consumer-directed care and laundry services, issues not included in the original SASI. The primary goals of this study are to assess the existing SASI tool, then develop and validate new items to add to the SASI that assess consumer-directed care and laundry services (as well as any new areas of consumer expectations).

Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services
Principal Investigator: Saruna Ghimire
March 6, 2025 through June 30, 2025

Resettled refugees in the United States face significant mental health challenges, including high rates of depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Despite this, their utilization of mental health services is low due to various barriers such as cultural, economic, and language obstacles, as well as gaps in culturally responsive services. Scholars attribute the low utilization of mental health services to the Western models of care that overlook refugees' unique experiences and cultural beliefs about illness and recommend the development of culturally responsive interventions and services. To address this issue, our study aims to design and evaluate a peer-led, culturally tailored intervention for immigrants and refugees.

Regents of the University of Michigan, pass through funds from the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration
Principal Investigator: Jonathon Vivoda
December 13, 2024 through December 12, 2029

This research involves the development, demonstration, and evaluation of employer-based driving safety programs. Programs in three areas will be developed: seat belt use, drowsy driving, and distracted driving. The goal of the research is to provide safety benefits in these areas for employers who implement the programs developed during the project, among their employee drivers.

The Donaghue Foundation
Principal Investigator: Katherine Abbott 
March 15, 2024 through September 15, 2025

1. The original project allowed us to advance understanding of the impact of implementing the Preferences for Everyday Living Inventory (PELI) in Ohio nursing homes. We validated a pragmatic indicator of extent of PELI implementation and explored the organizational characteristics associated with communities that fully implement the PELI. We found that NHs fully implementing the PELI were more likely to have a 4- or 5- star deficiency star rating, lower deficiency scores, and were more likely to be deficiency-free. NHs fully implementing the PELI were less likely to have any complaints and any substantiated complaints compared to partial PELI implementers.
2. We can confidently state that providers who fully implement the PELI through assessing resident preferences, integrating preferences into care plans, and evaluating their efforts have better outcomes than providers who do none or only partial PELI implementation. This is a systemic approach to preference-based care that we intend to advance using the R3 funds to disseminate and broaden adoption. While the data we used comes from Ohio nursing homes, we have evidence to show that Ohio providers are representative of providers nationwide. The nature of nursing home regulations create continuity from state to state.
3. We have limited information on the implementation strategies nursing homes use to fully implement the PELI. A detailed description (e.g., case study) of how organizations of different resource levels (e.g., star ratings) approach implementation would assist us in developing necessary tools and resources for NH providers seeking to adopt this approach. Identifying the strategies necessary to achieve full PELI implementation will promote replication and scalability. In addition, our stakeholders have consistently told us that we need to better
   communicate our findings. However, our dissemination through peer-review journals is not an effective mode to communicate to providers. We need to be able to effectively communicate the value proposition of fully implementing the PELI and determine the optimal communication channels to reach NH decision makers.
4. We propose to conduct in-depth qualitative interviews with approximately 10% of Ohio NHs that have fully implemented the PELI. The 2021 Ohio Biennial Survey that is completed by all NHs in the state, had n=182 communities who self-identified as Full PELI implementors (e.g., use information gathered from the PELI in care management and/or quality initiatives). We would start by reaching out to the Nursing Home Administrators of these communities via a Qualtrics survey to identify if they still consider themselves full PELI implementors. If they respond “yes” we will ask if they would be willing to participate in the study in exchange for $500. To the extent possible, we will attempt to stratify the sample by the organizational characteristics we found predictive of full PELI implementation. 2 For example, our implementation work thus far has indicated that the feasibility of uptake is related to resources (e.g., proxy indicator is star ratings). Therefore, our goal would be to highlight implementation case studies for low, medium, and highly resourced communities. Of the OH NHs that are still fully implementing the PELI, we would ask to do a one day, in-person visit to conduct interviews with the individuals who were most closely involved in the PELI implementation at the care community. We would compensate each provider $500 for the visit and craft a semi-structured interview guide using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR). Interviews could be in the form of focus
   groups or individual interviews, depending upon staff availability. We would conduct a thematic analysis across the cases (cross-case analysis) to identify the logical steps or stages of full implementation that can be replicated or followed by other communities. Our knowledge owners (a.k.a. stakeholders) have consistently told us that we need to communicate our findings more widely. However, our training to disseminate through peer-review journals is not an effective mode to communicate to NH providers. Therefore, we would then work with John Beilenson, president of Strategic Communications and Planning (SCP), to craft a clear and compelling value proposition for nursing home leaders and associated print and digital communications that would be shared with provider decision makers through a variety of channels.
   
   The steps or stages of full PELI implementation could guide policymakers on how to evaluate and incentivize provider participation/adoption. For example, pay for performance initiatives could be tied to evidence that providers are making progress through the steps or stages of implementation. Higher levels of implementation could receive more reimbursement than lower levels of implementation as evidenced by the Kansas PEAK 2.0 initiative. In addition, the case studies would be useful to policymakers and providers as examples of how nursing home providers were able to implement the PELI given the similar contexts of the regulatory environment and nation-wide staffing shortages. Other stakeholders we have worked with include Ombudsmen and family members. Ombudsmen are well-positioned to recommend our work to nursing home providers when they visit communities about a complaint. Family members can advocate for their loved ones who live in the nursing home setting and can complete a PELI on behalf of their loved one who many not be able to communicate their preferences to care partners. We know we need both the 30,000-foot view for decision makers as well as the specific details for how providers successfully implemented in order to increase uptake of our evidence-based program.

RRF Foundation for Aging
Principal Investigator: Jennifer Heston-Mullins and Robert Applebaum 
Effective through June 30, 2026

Council on Aging of Southwestern Ohio
Principal Investigator: Leah Janssen, Robert Applebaum
December 29, 2022 through June 30, 2024

The prevalence of substance abuse among older adults has been steadily increasing. However, older adults are screened, assessed, and treated for substance use disorders (SUDs) at a much lower rate than their younger counterparts. Those who are treated for SUDs face an array of barriers including limited resources, lacking recognition from medical professionals, and stigma. As a result, the Positive Choices program was developed to provide care-management for older adults with SUDs and help them achieve their long-term health-related goals. Through the use of 12 in-depth interviews with day-to-day program personnel, this study sought to better understand the program, highlight strengths, and identify opportunities for growth. Descriptive data was also collected to describe the demographic characteristics of Positive Choices enrollees. Thematic analysis revealed the program succeeded in building trust with members, providing resources, utilizing evidence-based tools, and providing timely communication. These strengths are coupled with opportunities to improve the program by continuing to destigmatize SUDs among older people. These findings reveal the critical role care-management plays in supporting older people with SUDs. Other programs working with this population should consider the results of this evaluation to ensure older adults with SUDs are best supported in the future.

Arthur N. Rupe Foundation
Principal Investigator: Meghan Young
January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2024

This project focuses on expanding OMA’s reach into respite care while highlighting an important collaboration between OMA and the Respite For All Foundation. The project, ultimately, seeks to equip respite care providers with more training and education on best practices when working with people living with dementia.

USAging
Principal Investigators: Suzanne Kunkel
April 1, 2025 through March 31, 2027

With funding from The John A. Hartford Foundation, USAging is creating and implementing a series of business acumen resources, trainings, learning collaboratives and consultancies to support the development of new lines of business, including contracting with health care providers, among the network of agencies servicing older adults and younger people with disabilities. Scripps Gerontology Center is contracting with USAging to evaluate the effectiveness and overall impact of the resources and interventions offered through this project.

Jewish Family Services
Principal Investigator: Heather Menne
April 28, 2025 through August 31, 2025

This project involves setting up ongoing data collection about adult day services (ADS) participants and family caregivers. Measures currently collected by Jewish Family Services (JFS) would be tracked in a manner that is accessible to address research questions. New measures would be added and tracked to develop more complete picture of participants (e.g., health, engagement, relationship with caregivers, amount of time in the program, health/social care utilization) and family members (e.g., well-being, stress, relationship with participant, program satisfaction, health/social care utilization). Specific measures and procedures would be created to understand when and why participants disenroll from the ADS. Products from this project include data collection tools and procedures and a brief summary of the program and participants.

University of Michigan, pass through funds from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
Principal Investigator: Denise Tyler
June 1, 2025 through August 31, 2025

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services mandates annual dementia training for nursing home (NH) staff. What is not known is how this training translates into the dementia knowledge and attitudes of staff or how this knowledge relates to staff turnover. In addition, previous research has shown that the ability of NH staff to turn training into practice is predicated on the facility’s organizational culture. The purpose of this study is to use data from the National Dementia Workforce Study nursing home survey to examine the relationships between staff dementia knowledge and attitudes, facility culture, and staff turnover.

Our specific aims are to 1) Examine the relationship between staff dementia knowledge and attitudes and staff turnover; 2) Develop a composite measure of facility culture and describe the relationship between facility culture and staff turnover, and 3) Explore the relationship between facility culture and staff dementia knowledge and attitudes.

Ohio Department of Aging (ODA)
Principal Investigator: Jennifer Heston-Mullins
May 31, 2024 through December 31, 2025

Johns Hopkins University
Principal Investigator: John Bowblis
May 1, 2024 through April 30, 2026

This project will examine the reasons and factors associated with private equity ownership of assisted living facilities. It will then examine the effect of private equity ownership on the health outcomes of individuals with memory care diagnoses.

National Endowment for the Arts 
Principal Investigator: Elizabeth Lokon 
September 1, 2022 through August 31, 2024

Retirement Research Foundation (RRF)
Principal Investigator: Meghan Young and Elizabeth Lokon 
January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2025

This study aims to measure the impact of ScrippsAVID, an Arts-based, Virtual, Intergenerational, and Dementia-friendly video-chat platform, on reducing loneliness and addressing ageism. This study is essential in ScrippsAVID’s national dissemination while offering insights into the viability of virtual programming in promoting social and intergenerational connections for older adults, including those living with dementia and their care partners.

USAging, pass through funds from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Principal Investigator: Heather Menne
September 1, 2024 through August 31, 2025

The Information and Planning project collects national data on the activities and community positioning of the national network of Area Agencies on Aging and Title VI organizations serving tribal elders. The data collected from the surveys informs a broad array of technical assistance strategies and resources developed and deployed, also under the auspices of this grant, by USAging to assist aging network organizations in maximizing their effectiveness.