Because the over-85 population is the fastest growing segment of the U.S. population, geriatric research such as that conducted by The Myers Research Institute at Menorah Park Center For Senior Living is very important. The Myers Research Institute is one of only 11 research centers in the nation located in a long-term care environment, providing an "on-site laboratory" for state, federal and privately-funded studies conducted by Myers' researchers.

The Institute is a division of Menorah Park dedicated to applied and clinical gerontological research. Studies conducted at Myers Research Institute helped to pioneer the implementation of successful restraint reduction techniques at Menorah Park that were shared with other facilities in Ohio and around the nation.

In addition, some current projects involve:

• disseminating Montessori-based principles and methods locally, nationally and internationally
• addressing the needs of persons with dementia in activity programming
• training family members to use Montessori-based activies while visiting long-term care residents with dementia
• evaluating the use of Montessori-based activities engaging clients with and without dementia in Home Health care settings
• disseminating spaced retrieval, a cognitive intevention, as a tool to increase effectivemenss of speech therapy for persons with dementia
• identifying critical issues in preventing HIV through the study of HIV positive women age 45 and older
• developing a game for use by groups of individuals with memory issues
• assessing ways in which residents adapt to vision impairment within nursing and assisted living facilities
• developing a Montessori-based assessment system for people with dementia
• assisting older adults with HIV in maintaining medicine adherence and clinic attendance through the use of spaced retrieval
• conducting multi-site trials of Montessori-based Activity Programming at nursing homes, adult day centers and assisted living facilities across Greater Cleveland

Funding sources for Institute projects have included various agencies and offices in the federal government, such as the National Institute of Mental Health, National Institute on Aging, Health Care Financing Administration and Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation. A number of private foundations and organizations, including the Alzheimer's Association, Bruening Foundation, Cleveland Foundation, HCR ManorCare Foundation, Hershey Foundation, Retirement Research Foundation, Samuels Foundation, and Sihler Mental Health Foundation have also funded Institute projects.

Institute staff have advanced degrees and training in nursing, psychology, social work, and rehabilitation. Consultants in a variety of topical or technical areas are available to Institute staff.