Another Look 2026 Grantees

This winter, the Donaghue Foundation awarded five new grants through its Another Look program, investing more than $1.3 million to advance research focused on improving health for older adults. Since 2013, the program has committed over $9 million to studies with near-term potential to strengthen care quality and outcomes in long-term care settings.

Diana Anderson, PhD | Boston University | Investigating the Relationships between Nursing Home Architecture and Health Outcomes

Dr. Diana Anderson of Boston University is leading an innovative study examining how nursing home architecture and design influence resident health outcomes. While clinical care often dominates conversations about quality, the built environment plays a critical yet understudied role in shaping mobility, mental health, and functional independence among older adults. This project seeks to bridge architecture and health services research by identifying how evidence‑based design elements such as walkable layouts, accessible social spaces, and supportive environmental features may improve resident well‑being and reduce costly adverse outcomes.

Using architectural drawings, structured coding frameworks, and interviews with facility leaders, the team will develop design archetypes across multiple nursing homes and link them with administrative outcome data. Findings will inform operators, architects, and policymakers about how thoughtful design can support aging populations and enhance value‑based care delivery. By demonstrating practical pathways to integrate design principles into real‑world settings, this work aims to advance safer, more person‑centered long‑term care environments.

Denise Quigley, PhD | RAND | Hospice Care Quality and Enrollment in Nursing Homes Amid Rising Private Equity Ownership

Dr. Denise Quigley of RAND is investigating how shifting ownership structures in the hospice industry, including growing private equity involvement, influence hospice enrollment and care quality for nursing home residents. As more residents with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias rely on hospice services, questions have emerged about whether financial incentives and ownership trends affect access, timing of enrollment, and end‑of‑life outcomes. This research addresses a pressing policy need to understand how organizational factors intersect with clinical care delivery.

The study combines longitudinal analysis of national CMS data with qualitative interviews from hospice professionals and referral sources to capture both system‑level patterns and on‑the‑ground experiences. By examining trends across ownership models and resident characteristics, the project will generate actionable insights for providers, administrators, and policymakers seeking to strengthen quality and equity in hospice care. Findings are expected to inform future regulatory strategies and guide health systems in promoting earlier, more appropriate hospice engagement.

Simeon Kimmel, PhD | Boston Medical Center | Incentivizing Care for People with Opioid Use Disorder in Skilled Nursing Facilities (INCENT‑OUD)

Dr. Simeon Kimmel of Boston Medical Center is evaluating a Massachusetts policy designed to improve access to skilled nursing facility (SNF) care for individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD). Despite legal protections, people receiving medication‑based treatment for OUD often face discrimination when seeking post‑acute care. This project examines whether a new Medicaid add‑on payment incentivizes facilities to admit and appropriately treat patients with OUD, particularly older adults who are frequently overlooked in addiction policy discussions.

Using MassHealth claims, Minimum Data Set information, and hospital referral data, the study will assess changes in SNF admissions, treatment patterns, and quality outcomes following policy implementation. Results will help determine whether financial incentives can reduce structural barriers and improve equitable access to post‑acute services. By generating evidence on real‑world policy effectiveness, this research aims to guide states in designing value‑based payment strategies that expand care options while improving outcomes for vulnerable populations.

Krista Harrison, PhD & Melissa Aldridge, PhD | UCSF & Mount Sinai | Hospice Visit Patterns for People with Dementia in Assisted Living and Nursing Homes

Drs. Krista Harrison and Melissa Aldridge are examining how hospice visit patterns influence end‑of‑life outcomes for people living with dementia in nursing homes and assisted living communities. With dementia now representing the most common diagnosis among hospice enrollees, concerns have emerged about whether current payment structures discourage adequate interdisciplinary visits. Their research seeks to clarify how agency ownership, size, and quality ratings shape visit frequency, timing, and staffing patterns.

Leveraging national Medicare claims data, the project will analyze how variations in hospice care relate to outcomes such as hospitalizations, medication use, and quality indicators near the end of life. The findings will provide critical insight into how policy and reimbursement models can better incentivize meaningful hospice engagement. By identifying actionable levers for improving care delivery, this study aims to strengthen person‑centered end‑of‑life care for individuals with dementia across long‑term care settings.