Scripps Gerontology Center

Ohio, along with the nation as a whole, is aging. As a result of major public health, environmental, and medical advances, life expectancy has increased dramatically. With about one and one-half million people over the age of 65 in 2000, Ohio ranks sixth nationally in the size of the aged population. The population age 85 and over has grown to 175,000 including about 50,000 Ohioans over age 90. Although such increases are positive, one negative side effect is increased numbers of older people experiencing a disability requiring chronic care. By 2010, over half a million older Ohioans will need assistance with at least one activity of daily living such as bathing, dressing, or getting out of bed. These population shifts place great pressure on the resources of the state and its citizens.

The Ohio Long-Term Care Research Project provides applied research, policy analysis, technical assistance, and training and education for Ohio legislators, public administrators, service providers, and the community at large. Funds provided to the Ohio Long-Term Care Research Project are used to support original research, a research report and journal article reprint series, conferences, and to provide matching funds or seed money for other externally funded projects. The primary goal of the project is the provision of information needed for effective planning, program development, and policy-making.

The focus of our research is health and long-term care in Ohio and includes, but is not limited to:

Long-term care system policy issues such as financing, delivery, planning, and projections of long-term care needs among the older population;
Individual-level questions including the experience of receiving long-term care services, meanings of disability, individual planning and decision-making for long-term care, nursing home and in-home services use patterns, and health behaviors;
Formal care provision, including staffing issues and service provision;
Informal and family caregiving; and
Comparative studies of health systems and long-term care.

Project funds support original research projects, dissemination of research findings through reports and conferences, matching fund support for externally funded research projects, and development funds for preparation of externally funded research proposals. The project is an extension of the nationally recognized gerontological research and education performed by Scripps for over 30 years.

Current projects include the financing of long-term care in Ohio, a series of reports on liability insurance, employee injuries, and staffing and turnover issues in nursing homes, a series of reports on facility amenities, resident characteristics, and staffing and turnover issues in residential care facilities, a longitudinal study of residents who have moved into a new Continuing Care Retirement Community, interpersonal skills training for nursing home aides, and family-care decisions in consumer directed care. For information about completed projects or to download completed reports click here.

The multidisciplinary nature of our long-term care research is reflected in the diversity of disciplines represented by project staff and faculty affiliates who have degrees in economics, psychology, sociology, gerontology, social welfare, human development and social policy, and business.

Project Staff: