IAECM Research Division

This division of the International Academy of Elder Care Managers is established for promotion of and participation in research related to Elder Care Management. In addition, two sub-programs have been established (Standards Commission and Research Mentoring Program).

The primary purpose of the IAECM Research Division is to promote and conduct research on the reliability and validity of the Elder Care Management process. Elder Care Management is a process of disability and/or care analysis based upon a plan of care format, created by multi-disciplined health care professionals (i.e., Rehabilitation Counselors, Registered Nurses, Case Managers, Disability Management Specialists, Physical and Occupational Therapists) as well as financial and legal professionals who are working with the aging population.

Currently the IAECM has no scientific research studies underway, however, with the assistance of several grants, we plan to conduct two (2) scientific studies through the University of Florida and Southern Illinois University with doctoral students doing their dissertation research in the specific area of elder care management, its affect within the community; both professionally and locally, and the outcome statistics on elderly individuals (both with and without disability).

The Research Mentoring Program being initiated by the IAECM is designed to bring together University-based researchers and private practitioners interested in opening their ECM case loads to research. The IALCP will provide support in research methodology and design, statistical analysis and application to internal review boards for human subject research. The goal is to foster more research into private practice caseloads in an effort to extend life; foster partnerships within the community-based services that are available to the elderly population and where the greatest amount of work is being accomplished in this specialized field of practice.

The Standards Commission is an internal “think tank” of the IAECM. The Commission will operate under a standard set of rules which will be published and generally available and open to interested third parties. Those rules will be subject to change based on the methodology laid down by the Board of Directors and Board Members of the IAECM. Meetings of the Commission will be open to the public for observation only via onsite exchange or webinar/telecom. Public comment will not be invited. The Commission will consist of nine voting members. It will be led by one non-voting member responsible for overseeing order and acting as a mediator. Commission membership is limited to individuals who meet the criteria defined by IAECM.

To date, no fund raising has been undertaken by IAECM. Future efforts will be by grant proposal, letter and phone contact directed to any entity involved in the care or service of our elder population. One hundred percent (100%) of the funds donated or grants received by the Research Division/IAECM will go to support research-related costs. No salaries are being paid to board members or to administrative staff.