A Leader in Service, Research and
Advocacy for Older Adults

For services or advice on eldercare issues,
call 216.791.8000 or e-mail info@benrose.org

Our Mission : To advance the health, independence and dignity of older adults

Margaret Blenkner Research Institute


The Margaret Blenkner Research Institute (MBRI) findings are used to design new, innovative services implemented by Benjamin Rose’s Eldercare Services Institute as well as several other organizations serving the elderly.

 

newMBRI Research on Evidence-Based Programs
Margaret Blenkner

Founded in 1961, MBRI is one of the first centers in the nation established by a service organization to conduct state-of-the art research in applied gerontology.

Our namesake, Dr. Margaret Blenkner, D.S.W., was a pioneer in applied aging research and social services. Her early professional experience in public welfare and family service gave her insight into the need for specially designed services for poor and vulnerable older persons.

While at the Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging she conducted landmark studies on two new service programs, protective services and home health care. The results of the protective services study helped enact legislation on behalf of older persons who were at risk for elder abuse or self-neglect. A study on home health care found older people could remain in their homes longer through reliable personal and housekeeping care. The study was the basis for what is now Benjamin Rose’s Home Care Aide Program, established in 1969. A native of Montana, Dr. Blenkner died in 1973.

 

List of MBRI Research Staff

MBRI Papers

MBRI Research Interests

MBRI Publications & Presentation List

MBRI Research on Evidence-Based Programs

"When I see a resident smile,
I feel like I've accomplished something."

— Sherry Gipson, dementia care specialist, whose training program resulted from Margaret Blenkner Research Institute findings.

Care Consultation

A new, telephone-based information and support service for older adults and their caregivers, developed and tested through research studies at MBRI.

  • Health- and care-related information
  • Family and friend involvement in care
  • Awareness and use of community services
  • Coaching and support

Learn more

SHARE Project

The SHARE Project (Supporting Health and Research Education) is designed to help older adults

  • Stay active and plan for the future
  • Learn more about memory loss and the symptoms that accompany it
  • Improve your communication skills

The Margaret Blenkner Research Institute is currently recruiting participants for this exciting study! Click here for more information.

The Experience of Long-term Care Organizations in Seven States with Older Workers, Volunteers and Participants from the Senior Community Service and Employment Program (SCSEP)

This report summarizes findings from a study of providers of long-term care services in seven states:  Alabama, Iowa, Maryland, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio and Tennessee. The purpose of this four-month study was to gather information on the extent to which long-term care organizations employ older workers, use older volunteers, and serve as host agencies for participants in the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP).

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REACH Third Year Report

The Margaret Blenkner Research Institute is evaluating the impact of the REACH project over a three-year period. The REACH project is targeted to address concerns about the future of quality care for an increasingly elderly population by giving employers a systemic, sustainable and replicable workforce development solution that is grounded in evidence-based practices.

Learn more

REACH Third Year Report

The Margaret Blenkner Research Institute is evaluating the impact of the REACH project over a three-year period. The REACH project is targeted to address concerns about the future of quality care for an increasingly elderly population by giving employers a systemic, sustainable and replicable workforce development solution that is grounded in evidence-based practices.

Learn more

Direct Care Workers' Recommendations for Training and Continuing Education

Based on the recognized importance of improved training for direct care workers, a study of this population was undertaken un the Better Jobs Better Care initiative. Funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Atlantic Philanthropies, the Better Jobs Better Care initiative projects were overseen by the Institute for the Future of Aging Services at the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging.

The intention of the MBRI study was to examine the training needs of direct care workers and their supervisors in order to provide information on how to improve training and in turn, influence the job satisfaction and commitment of these workers. This article highlights the perceptions and recommendations for better training and continuing education for direct care workers in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and home health settings.

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