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VITAL RESEARCH PRESENTS AT GSA'S ANNUAL SCIENTIFIC MEETING IN BOSTON

BOSTON - Over 4,000 attendees made their way to Boston for a combined 500 symposia, papers, and posters at GSA's 2011 Annual Scientific Meeting. Vital Research was represented by Muriel Wheatley, Director of Operations, who shared how to collect valid and reliable data from nursing facility residents and family members in large-scale quality initiatives.

The "Using a Nursing Home Report Card to Improve Quality of Life" symposium also included sessions presented by Drs. Kathleen Abrahamson (Western Kentucky University) and Tetyana Shippee (University of Minnesota), along with Teresa Lewis and Valerie Cooke from the Minnesota Department of Human Services. As a result of the symposium, attendees were able to:

Describe how a Quality of Life measure was created
Explain how to collect unbiased data from nursing facility residents and family members.
Discuss how such a system can be used to improve nursing home quality

For further information, please contact Muriel Wheatley at (888) 848-2511.

VITAL RESEARCH GEARS UP FOR IN-DEPTH REPORT ON MAJOR EDUCATIONAL REFORM

LOS ANGELES - In the new year just begun, Vital Research will provide important new, detailed data and analysis for a major California program striving to improve the education of some 500,000 students who attend underperforming schools.

The spring 2011 report will be a milestone in Vital Research's ongoing work on the educational reform begun three years ago under the Quality Education Investment Act (QEIA). An eight-year program, QEIA is providing $3 billion to nearly 500 schools to reduce class sizes, improve teacher and principal training, provide more student counseling, and boost parental involvement.

In 2007, the California Teachers Association (CTA) hired Vital Research to conduct ongoing longitudinal studies of QEIA. As 2010 drew to a close, Vital Research and CTA issued a preliminary analysis of data gathered in a statewide multi-method evaluation "Lessons from the Classroom: Initial Success for At-Risk Students," (See: www.cta.org/Issues-and-Action/QEIA/QEIA.aspx) was recently discussed at a CTA symposium in Sacramento. State Superintendent of Public Instruction-elect Tom Torlakson attended, along with nearly 200 teachers, education experts and state legislative staffers. Since QEIA began, Vital Research reported, participating schools showed greater API gains than similar non-participants. The greatest gains were obtained under particular school site conditions.

That report underlined key strategies that already appear effective in enhancing learning in the bottom 20 percent of California schools. In May, Vital Research is scheduled to deliver a more thorough technical analysis with additional information, including interviews with key personnel in participating school districts and counties, a more in-depth look at student test scores, and an evaluation of how well schools are actually doing in meeting their QEIA goals.

VITAL RESEARCH HEADS TO PAN PACIFIC PARK WITH TREEPEOPLE

LOS ANGELES - With light rain to help water,

we worked together with TreePeople to care for the trees at Pan Pacific Park in Los Angeles. By weeding and applying mulch, Vital Research helped maintain young trees with the tools of the trade: trawls, cultivators, and brawn.

TreePeople is a non profit organization that educates, and trains
on sustainable solutions to plant and care for trees.

VITAL RESEARCH COMPLETES WORK ON CCF'S BEST CARE INITIATIVE
**Updated 9/22/10: Tracking Outcomes for Program Success (TOPS) online system for Adult Day Services Unveiled**

The California Community Foundation (CCF) launched a two-year Adult Day Care - Best Care Initiative (BCI) in July 2008. The goal of the Initiative was to build capacity of adult day programs by:

Measuring program effectiveness
Measuring client outcomes
Developing a web-based data collection and reporting system
Integrating the system into adult day service programs

As the technical consultant for the grant, Vital Research collaboratively worked with providers to define outcomes and develop tools to measure program effectiveness and client outcomes. The Initiative culminated in the development of a web-based system (TOPS) for programs to enter data and produce real-time reports. CCF, the California Association for Adult Day Services (CAADS), and Alliance for Leadership and Education (ALE) hosted an unveiling of the online data collection and reporting system, Transforming Adult Day Services with Online Outcomes Assessment, on September 22nd at the California Endowment.

Additional Resources:

VITAL RESEARCH PARTNER RECOGNIZED FOR DEDICATION TO AGING SERVICES OF CALIFORNIA

Aging Services of California honored Vital Research partner, Harold Urman, Ph.D., for his commitment to the care of seniors throughout the state. The 2010 Associate Member-of-the-Year Award recognized Urman's contributions to the aging services field. The ceremony was held May 5, 2010 in Long Beach at the Annual Conference and Exposition held by Aging Services of California.

Urman has been deeply involved with the aging services field for 15 years. He has specifically supported and assisted Aging Services of California for ten years. In those ten years, Urman has presented at annual and regional Aging Services of California meetings; campaigned for causes of the organization; served as Associate Director-at-Large on the Aging Services of California Board of Directors from 2005-2007; and has completed multiple pro bono projects for Aging Services.

He currently serves on the strategic planning committee for Aging Services of California, an activity he described as, "extremely rewarding, thought provoking, and enlightening."

Urman was nominated for the 2010 Associate Member-of-the-Year Award by Bill Cunitz, CEO of Pilgrim Place and also by his colleagues at Vital Research. The nomination was supported by On Lok, Inc. and Southern California Presbyterian Homes, two organizations Urman and Vital Research have worked closely with over the years.

Aging Services of California is the largest senior living and healthcare association in the state. It is made up of more than 400 nonprofit aging service providers and advocates for quality senior living and care, particularly affordable housing, continuing care retirement communities, assisted living, skilled-nursing, and home and community- based care. Aging Services of California celebrates its 49th year of operation in 2010.

For more information about Aging Services of California, go to aging.org.

LOCAL RESEARCHER AND EDUCATOR SELECTED AS EMERGING LEADER

We are pleased to announce, Courtney Malloy, a senior researcher at Vital Research, LLC, and an assistant professor of clinical education in the Rossier School of Education at the University of Southern California, has been recognized as an Emerging Leader by PDK International, a global association of education professionals.

This prestigious award distinguishes Courtney among the top educators in the world for her exemplary leadership through service, teaching, and research. To learn more, click on the press announcement or listen to the podcast interview.

VITAL RESEARCH HAS CONDUCTED 14,000 FACE-TO-FACE INTERVIEWS OF MINNESOTA NURSING HOME RESIDENTS FOR THE SIXTH STRAIGHT YEAR

For the sixth consecutive year, the Minnesota Department of Human Services selected Vital Research to conduct satisfaction surveys among Minnesota nursing home residents. Vital Research interviewed approximately 14,000 residents in 380 of the state's Medicaid-certified nursing homes. In addition, family members had the opportunity to complete a survey on paper, online, or by phone. A total of 16,792 family members participated in the first statewide survey.

Vital Research was responsible for training local interviewers, scheduling the interviews, and conducting face-to-face interviews with residents at each nursing home. Satisfaction survey results were posted on the state's online Nursing Home Report Card (www.health.state.mn.us/nhreportcard), sponsored by the Minnesota Departments of Health and Human Services. The public report card provides information to help consumers, family members, and professionals search for and compare nursing homes on seven quality measures, including resident satisfaction and quality of life.

Vital Research has conducted resident satisfaction surveys since 1995 and has conducted statewide surveys for Ohio and Rhode Island.

VITAL RESEARCH UNITES IN THE FIGHT AGAINST WOMEN'S CANCERS

On Saturday, May 9th, the staff of Vital Research is eager to join forces once again with the Revlon 5K Walk/Run for Women, Los Angeles. Our participation will mark its eleventh year of involvement with the event, which raises awareness of critical funds for women's cancer research, counseling and outreach programs.

www.revlonrunwalk.com

RESIDENT SATISFACTION WITH INDEPENDENT LIVING RESULTS FROM THE VITAL RESEARCH NATIONAL DATABASE

By Harold N. Urman, Ph.D and Nora E. Douglas, Ph.D

According to the Vital Research Independent Living national database, life is good for most residents of independent living communities. The national database included survey results for more than 16,000 independent living residents. The questions are organized into 12 domains and a measure of overall satisfaction with quality of life. Overall, 92% of residents were satisfied with their quality of life in Independent Living. Also, highlighted are some interesting differences in satisfaction levels between residents with varying characteristics. Read more about the satisfaction of daily living.

The article was published on RetirementHomes.com.

READERS CHOOSE VITAL RESEARCH

McKnight's Long Term Care News announced Vital Research a winner of their Readers' Choice Award in Resident Satisfaction! This Award recognizes what readers vote as the "products and services that have made the biggest impact on their work lives over the past 25 years."

Nancy Spears, Executive Director at Pennswood Village, calls Vital Research's Satisfaction Surveys something she "couldn't live without."

From the Vital Research Archives: VITAL RESEARCH WINS CAHSA'S ASSOCIATE MEMBER-OF-THE-YEAR AWARD

Presenter: Gregory D. Bearce

Vital Research received the "CAHSA Associate Member-of-the-Year" Award at CAHSA's 43rd Annual Meeting Luncheon which took place on May 5th, 2004 at the Pasadena Convention Center in Pasadena, CA.

Vital Research, a research and consulting firm specializing in resident, family and employee satisfaction surveys, is not only committed to improving the quality of life for seniors living in nursing homes and other residential settings, but also hires and works with senior workers. In May 2003, Vital Research received the prestigious Governor's Older Worker and Exemplary Employer Recognition Award recognizing their exemplary recruiting, hiring and retention practices of employees age 40 and over. More than half of Vital Research's employees are over 45 and six are in the 50-75 age bracket.

Vital Research worked with CAHSA staff and residents to develop a special resident satisfaction survey to satisfy the requirements of SB 309 for CCRCs to survey residents every two years. They have presented education programs at region meetings, including a Quality First program on Resident Satisfaction, and have helped CAHSA's advocacy efforts by participating in legislative visits during the Public Policy Conference.

From the Vital Research Archives: VITAL RESEARCH WINS CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR'S AWARD

LOS ANGELES, June 17, 2003 - Los Angeles-based Vital Research, LLC, was honored at the 2003 Governor's Older Worker and Exemplary Employer Recognition Awards Luncheon as the recipient of this year's

Exemplary Employer Award, which honors employers in the state who make commendable efforts to increase opportunities for older workers.

"We are quite honored to receive this award as our firm is committed to hiring employees with diverse backgrounds and from every age group," says Gwen C. Uman, R.N., Ph.D., Vital Research Partner. "This tribute is especially appropriate as our company's mission includes improving the quality of daily life for seniors."

The integration of ages, experiences and perspectives contribute to making our work environment stimulating and challenging."

The awards luncheon, hosted by the Senior Worker Advocate Office, is supported by a coalition of private and public organizations, including the California Employment Development Department, the California Department of Aging, the California Commission on Aging, the California Chamber of Commerce, and the California Employer Advisory Council.