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 The Margaret Blenkner Research Institute (MBRI) findings are used to design new, innovative services implemented by Benjamin Rose’s Community Services Division as well as several other organizations serving the elderly.
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"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. |
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 Blenker, 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 Benjamin Rose 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 Projects>>
MBRI Publications and Presentation Listing>>
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Many of the projects conducted at Benjamin Rose's Margaret Blenkner Research Institute (MBRI) would not be possible without the generous help of volunteer research participants. We greatly appreciate these individuals who are curious about our research and take the time to share their thoughts, opinions, and experiences.
If you've ever considered becoming a research participant, now is your chance!
The MBRI has recently received a grant from The Retirement Research Foundation titled, “Enhancing the Role of Older Adults in Research and Care Planning.” Approximately 300 adults (age 75 and over) throughout Northeast Ohio will be interviewed for this project. Information from the interviews will help us learn more about communication and health care decision making for older adults and will be used to inform guidelines for effectively communicating with persons that have cognitive impairment.
The only criteria to participate in this project is that you are 75 years of age or older
A wide range of individuals will be interviewed for this project, regardless of their physical health and/or memory condition. Participation will involve two in-person interviews (20-30 minutes each) conducted approximately one week apart. Interviews will be conducted by trained interviewers from Benjamin Rose and can take place in your home. Everyone who completes both interviews will be sent a check for $25. At the end of the project, all participants will receive a report of study findings.
If you or someone you know would like to learn more about this opportunity, please call or e-mail Justin Johnson at (216) 373-1666 or jujohnson@benrose.org . For a more detailed summary of this project, click here.
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Results From the Cuyahoga County Direct Care Workforce Organizational Survey
MBRI has conducted a three year survey of all long-term care organizations in Cuyahoga County to examine recruitment and retention practices and concerns faced by nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and home care agencies. The survey was called for by the Long Term Care Workforce Initiative Sub-Committee of The Senior Success Vision Council and was funded by the United Way. Cuyahoga Community College , Office of Community Continuing Education, Center for Applied Gerontology acted as the Lead Agency.
Data was collected at three different times, for 2003, 2004, and 2005, regarding wages, benefits, retention strategies, and recruitment strategies. This report briefly summarizes results of the survey.
<<pdf of full survey report>>
<<Long Term Care Workforce Initiative website>>
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The Margaret Blenkner Research Institute of Benjamin Rose is conducting a study on the high levels of job dissatisfaction and high turnover rates of direct care workers. In this project, Benjamin Rose is surveying both direct care workers and their supervisors from a spectrum of longterm care agencies, i.e., nursing homes, assisted living facilities and home health agencies. To read the Executive Summary report on "Better Jobs Better Care" <<Click Here>>
 Click the image to read the article
This article appears as a reprint from the Better Jobs Better Care Insights Newsletter, No.8, Fall 2005, by permission of the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging. Copyright 2005, AAHSA.
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As part of an ongoing caregiving research project, members of the Margaret Blenkner Research Institute are gathering data from older adults with dementia and family caregivers about their values and preferences for everyday care planning. Results show that increasing a caregiver's understanding of his or her relative's care preferences can lead to fewer feelings of overload, burden, and depression for caregivers. The Values and Preferences Scale was recently developed as a tool for researchers and practitioners to facilitate the discussion and understanding of care preferences within caregiving families. Using The Values and Preferences Scale, older adults and their family caregivers rate the importance of 24 factors to be considered when making decisions about care such as keeping the same doctors or living at home. The responses of older adults and caregivers can be compared to highlight discrepancies in the importance that each respondent places on a factor. These discrepancies can be discussed among family members to improve quality of care and lessen the stress associated with chronic illness.
<<Click here for a pdf copy of The Values and Preferences Scale>>
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