Research-Based

Few if any memory care providers fund and carry out their own research to determine what is best and what can be improved for clients with cognitive challenges.

Hearthstone’s Research Division, led by Director Michael Skrajner, is a global pioneer in non-pharmacological interventions for dementia. Hearthstone’s Research Division is the leading non-pharmacological research organization funded by the National Institute of Health (NIH). The Research Division team has collaborated with some of the premier thought leaders in dementia care, including Dr. Barry Reisberg, Dr. Peter Whitehouse, and Dr. Paul Raia.

Today, memory care organizations all over the country use Hearthstone’s research results for:

• Techniques used to effectively communicate with persons living with dementia
• Behavioral changes observed in cognitively impaired adults who take part in I’m Still Here® programs
• Long-term outcomes of innovative I’m Still Here® interventions
• Prioritizing the activities and approaches most beneficial to those living with dementia.

Standardized measures determine the effects of different activities and interventions on Resident behavior. Study results are published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at leading scientific conferences.

The time-chart below shows how much Hearthstone has invested in advancing knowledge about dementia care over the years, and indicates how key questions and issues related to expanding the non-pharmacological approach to care have been answered.