MATHER AWARDS SPOTLIGHT BIG, NEW—AND ACTIONABLE—RESEARCH BY TOM GRESHAM
Academic research that explores issues of great importance to the senior living field often does not end up in front of the profes- sionals who work in the industry. That’s a big reason Mather Institute developed its annual Innovative Research on Aging Awards, which honor and showcase research with important implications for the senior living and aging services industries. Cate O’Brien, vice president and director of Mather Institute, which conducts research for senior living and community-residing older adults, says there is “a vast world of research” related to senior living, but much of it is published in research journals, sometimes behind a paywall, for audiences who typically are academics rather than practitioners. “Part of the inspiration for the awards was trying to highlight some of the great research that's going on that can have applica- tions and benefits for senior living,” O’Brien says. “We wanted to help bridge that gap and make those findings available to more people.”
Mather publishes a report of its research honorees every
year, and it is one of the institute’s most popular publications (
matherinstitute.com/research). Through the awards, which were founded in 2016, O’Brien said Mather recognizes high-quality research that touches on important issues in senior living and that is “actionable” with concrete recommendations for those working in the field. “That’s where a lot of the value comes in,” O’Brien says. “We
don’t want our readers to have to work to identify what they could do with the research—we want that aspect clearly highlighted.” A sampling of this year’s honorees shows a future of real-world possibilities for senior living quality:
GOLD AWARD RECIPIENT • “Studying a New Way to Train,” Jenny Inker, Virginia Com- monwealth University. Can six minutes on your cell phone make a difference in care? This research explored training in person-centered memory care through the use of microlearn- ing—short learning segments that can be available online through multiple types of devices. With current challenges in workforce and need for infection prevention and control practices, the need to develop the most effective and efficient training is critical. Results of the 52-week microlearning pro- gram revealed “significant improvements in staff attitudes and confidence with respect to dementia and job satisfaction.”
SELECTED SILVER AWARD RECIPIENTS • “Scrutinizing Social Hierarchies,” Evan Plys, University of Colorado School of Medicine. Many in families and residents have said senior living can be like high school—or even middle
school—with its cliques and social groups. This study was aimed at getting information on why—and how any negative effects associated with social hierarchies could be avoided.
• “Achieving Assessment Accessibility,” Alyssa Gamaldo and Shyuan Ching Tan, Pennsylvania State University, and Angie Sardina, University of North Carolina Wilmington. The difficulty of getting to a clinical setting—or wanting to avoid such set- tings—for Black older adults is one factor affecting the ability to get cognitive assessments for those who need them. This study tested a computerized cognitive test, which could be given in different settings. It was a hit, scoring in the 80s and 90s while a pencil-and-paper test got a 53 percent rating of ease of use.
SELECTED BRONZE AWARD RECIPIENTS • “Addressing Ageism in Staff,” Tracey Gendron, PhD, Jennifer Inker, PhD, Annie Rhodes, MSG, Virginia Commonwealth University; Verena Cimarolli, PhD, Alexandra Hennessa, Robyn Stone, PhD, LeadingAge. Having staff participate in a one-hour, video-based session addressing ageism made a big difference: “[A]geist behaviors significantly decreased over the three-month study period, and that participants were able to identify specific changes they had made as a result of the video intervention.”
• “Serving Up Care Improvements,” Sienna Caspar, PhD, University of Lethbridge. Person-centered care is high-quality care, but it can be tough to keep it up all day, every day, with staff changes and variations in training and understanding. The Feasible and Sustainable Culture Change Initiative (FASCCI) model was developed to address this. This study applied the FASCCI model at mealtimes, making such changes as using table settings rather than serving meals on trays; turning off the television and replacing it with soft music; giving residents a choice of where to sit at each meal; and staff sitting and socializing with residents while they ate. Mealtime environment scores started increasing immediately. Staff reported that using the FASCCI model “resulted in improved team leadership, com- munication, and collaborative decision-making.”
• “Assessing Person-Place Fit,” Joyce Weil, PhD, MPH, CPG, University of Northern Colorado; Verena Cimarolli, PhD, Alexandra Hennessa, Robyn Stone, PhD, LeadingAge. The Person-Place Fit Measure for Older Adults was designed to match up older adults with the place and setting that is likely best for them. While it’s still being tested, it could be a method to quickly assess quality of life, satisfaction, and other factors.
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2021
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