Evaluation of the Wellspring Model for Improving Nursing Home Quality

Examines how successfully the Wellspring model improved the quality of care for residents of eleven nonprofit nursing homes in Wisconsin. Looks at staff turnover, and evaluates the impact on facilities, employees, residents, and cost

The Housing Needs of Chicago's Aging LGBT Population

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) seniors face challenges common to all aging adults such as health problems, dwindling finances, ageism, and loneliness. However, LGBT seniors frequently find that these challenges are compounded due to discrimination based on their sexual orientation/gender identity and other unique social obstacles, economic and service barriers, and health issues. One of the greatest challenges facing Chicago seniors is the ability to find affordable housing. Due to different types of discrimination, many LGBT seniors find it particularly difficult to locate safe housing at a price they can afford. Additionally, as LGBT adults age they often find it necessary to hide their sexual orientation/gender identity in order to access the services they need. Based on the projected growth of the LGBT senior population in Chicago, attention must be given to how the city can provide for their service and housing needs. This brief outlines these needs and explores the idea of an affordable, inclusive housing facility in Chicago that validates and supports LGBT seniors through culturally appropriate services

Need for Human Services in Illinois

This report aims to support the Illinois Human Services Commission in its effort to fulfill its charge to "undertake a systematic review of human services programs with the goal of ensuring their consistent delivery in the State of Illinois" and to "make recommendations for achieving a system that will provide for the efficient and effective delivery of high quality human service" by outlining basic population and demographic trends that impact human services and by diving deeper into seven human services categories to identify who is in need of services and how current realities and trends may impact the level and type of need going forward. The seven categories of human services were chosen based on their diversity, vulnerability in the state budget, and their potential to be impacted by emerging and likely trends. **More than simply a compendium of data on need, this report demonstrates how relatively simple data can inform program and policy decisions, which are far too often made in information voids. With Illinois human services plagued by increasingly scarce resources, cutbacks in services, and program closures in the last few years, such data-driven decision making is more critical than ever. To that end, the report concludes with a detailed account of how all need estimates in the report were developed and practical recommendations for how the state can incorporate this type of analysis into regular planning

Addressing the Health Needs of an Aging America: New Opportunities for Evidence-Based Policy Solutions

This report systematically maps research findings to policy proposals intended to improve the health of the elderly. The study identified promising evidence-based policies, like those supporting prevention and care coordination, as well as areas where the research evidence is strong but policy activity is low, such as patient self-management and palliative care. Future work of the Stern Center will focus on these topics as well as long-term care financing, the health care workforce, and the role of family caregivers

Targeted LGBT Senior Housing: A Study of the Needs and Perceptions of LGBT Seniors in Chicago

Although lesbian gay bisexual and transgendered (LGBT) seniors face issues similar to their heterosexual counterparts such as declining health, dwindling finances, depression, social isolation, and ageism, they also face unique issues such as discrimination based on sexual orientation, and are at an even greater risk for health problems such as depression, substance abuse, and even suicide. Therefore LGBT seniors require support services specifically designed to meet their unique needs. The housing needs of LGBT seniors are one such area that must be addressed as more LGBT persons enter their advanced years

Homeless Over 50: The Graying of Chicago's Homeless Population

In the winter of 2006, the Chicago Alliance to End Homelessness teamed with Loyola University's Center for Urban Research and Learning to undertake a nine-month study of people in Chicago who were homeless and aged 50 to 64.This study, funded by the Retirement Research Foundation, was undertaken in response to reports from homeless service agencies that this cohort of people was growing. Starting in 2005, agencies including Matthew House, Featherfist and Deborah's Place reported a fast-growing number of people aged 50-64 using homeless services, and that they seemed to both share issues with the rest of the homeless population and face circumstances unique to their age and stage of life.The goal of this study, then, was threefold:1. To obtain a demographic profile of people who are homeless in Chicago and are between the ages of 50 and 64;2. To understand how the various systems designed to serve this population do and do not meet their needs; and3. To begin to suggest a range of policy and programmatic responses to the needs of this population

The Social and Economic Value of Human Services

This paper examines publicly-funded human services and highlights a body of evidence that speaks to both the social and economic value for society when investments are made into human services. The story that emerges points to the advantages of investments in human services in three distinct ways: Human services provide a lifeline for many of the state's most disadvantaged residents -- seniors, people with disabilities, people who are poor, those experiencing homelessness, children -- thereby honoring concepts of human rights, equality, and the inherent dignity and worth of each and every individual. There are a variety of documented positive impacts of a variety of human services programs including enhanced quality of life and stronger and more economically competitive individuals, families, and communities. Such programs are wise investments, staving off the much larger immediate and/or future costs that would be incurred if the social problems they address were left unchecked

Promoting Quality in Nursing Homes: The Wellspring Model

Examines the core elements of a nursing home-based initiative -- developed by an alliance of eleven nonprofit nursing homes in Wisconsin -- that works to improve care and reduce staff turnover through model clinical practice systems

A New Age in Dementia Care: Turning Evidence into Practice

A New Age in Dementia Care: Turning Evidence into Practice Come celebrate the opening of the new Living Laboratory for Elder Care. September 17, 2008 7:30 am - 4:30 pm Thomas Jefferson University, Dorrance H. Hamilton Building 1001 Locust St., Philadelphia, PA 19107 Speakers Include: Christine Arenson, MD Associate Professor Director, Division of Geriatric Medicine Department of Family and Community Medicine Jefferson Medical College Director, Eastern-Pennsylvania Delaware Geriatric Education Center Co-Director Jefferson InterProfessional Education Center Thomas Jefferson University Louis D. Burgio, PhD Harold R. Johnson Endowed Chair in Gerontology, Professor of Social Work Research Professor, Institute of Gerontology School of Medicine Adjunct Professor School of Nursing and Department of Psychology University of Michigan Ann Arbor, MI Janice P. Burke, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA Dean, Jefferson School of Health Professions Chair and Professor Department of Occupational Therapy Co-Executive Director Living Laboratory for Elder Care Jefferson College of Health Professions Thomas Jefferson University Christopher M. Callahan, MD Cornelius and Yvonne Pettinga Professor of Aging Research Director, Indiana University Center for Aging Research Investigator, Regenstrief Institute, Inc. Robert Egge Project Director Center for Health Transformation Washington, DC Lynn Friss Feinberg, MSW Deputy Director, National Center on Caregiving Family Caregiver Alliance San Francisco, CA Laura N. Gitlin, PhD Director, Jefferson Center for Applied Research on Aging and Health Professor, Department of Occupational Therapy Co-Executive Director Living Laboratory for Elder Care Jefferson College of Health Professions Thomas Jefferson University Barry J. Jacobs, PsyD Licensed Psychologist Director of Behavioral Sciences Crozer-Keystone Family Medicine Residency Program Springfield, PA Katie Maslow, MSW Associate Director, Quality Care Advocacy Alzheimer’s Association Public Policy Division Washington, DC Nancy B. O’Connor Regional Administrator Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Philadelphia Regional Office United States Department of Health and Human Services Philadelphia, PA Catherine Verrier Piersol, MS, OTR/L Clinical Director, Living Laboratory for Elder Care Jefferson Center for Applied Research on Aging and Health Jefferson College of Health Professions Thomas Jefferson University Susan C. Reinhard, PhD, RN, FAAN Senior Vice President, Public Policy Institute AARP Washington, DC Barry W. Rovner, MD Professor Departments of Psychiatry and Neurology Jefferson Hospital for Neuroscience Director of Clinical Alzheimer’s Disease Research Farber Institute for Neurosciences Thomas Jefferson University Richard Schulz, PhD Professor of Psychiatry, Epidemiology, Sociology, Psychology, Community Health, and Health and Rehabilitation Sciences Director University Center for Social and Urban Research Associate Director University of Pittsburgh Institute on Aging Pittsburgh, PA Leslie M. Swann, PhD Aging Program Management Specialist United States Department of Health and Human Services United States Administration on Aging Washington, DC A tour of the new multidisciplinary Hamilton Building and reception to follo