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	Dr. Doris L. Milke, M.Sc., Ph.D. Senior Researcher, CapitalCare Associate Adjunct Professor, University of Alberta Department of Psychology, Faculty of Nursing & Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine 1989 PhD University of Alberta 1985 M.Sc University of Alberta 1982 BA (Hon) University of Alberta

Role
As Senior Researcher, Dr. Milke leads and participates in cutting-edge research in addition to initiating and engaging in enterprises to help CapitalCare build research capacity. She also promotes applied research within CapitalCare. She serves as a knowledge broker, advocating for the use of research in planning and delivering healthcare. She also provides input into the Alzheimer Care Centre programs, other dementia and mental health programs within CapitalCare, and into corporate planning for new construction and renovation projects.

Research Interests
Dr. Milke specializes in research on dementia care and supportive environments. Although the number is growing, she is one of a handful of Canadian researchers working in the field who are knowledgeable in environmental gerontology; her Ph.D. specializes in that field.

Current Research
Selected Publications
Professional Affiliations

Current Research

Evidence and Policy in Long-Term Care:
Building a Bridge with Knowledge Brokering (2005-2007).
Funded by Canadian Health Services Research Foundation (CHSRF), this project intends to create and facilitate meaningful dialogue between researchers and decision-makers in the long-term care field. This knowledge brokering will specifically centre on using RAI 2.0 data as part of a quality assurance framework within the continuing care field. The emphasis will be placed on stimulating an evidence-based culture and the use of research-based evidence. The approach of the project is to implement a “leaky sieve” approach to knowledge brokering so that research results are disseminated at several points during the process and not just upon completion. Dr. Milke is a co-investigator on this study.

Managing Continuity of Care for Continuing Care Services within Two Health Regions: Perspective on Waitlists (2003-2006).
This project is a collaborative, multidisciplinary effort, which benefits from the expertise of its 19 person team, which include researchers from CapitalCare, the University of Alberta, the University of Calgary, Dalhousie University, Alberta Health and Wellness, Capital Health, Calgary Health Region, and Shepherd’s Care. It is funded by Canadian Health Services Research Foundation (CHSRF) and the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research (AHFMR). The purpose of the project is to better understand (a) the nature of waitlists for publicly funded continuing care services in Alberta’s two most populous health regions, that is, Capital Health (CH, Edmonton and area) and Calgary Health Region (CHR, Calgary and area), and (b) the experiences of individuals as they wait for these services. Dr. Milke is a co-investigator on this study.

Chronic pain in persons with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) residing in continuing care centres (CCCs) of The Capital Care Group.
In 2004, The CapitalCare Foundation funded this project. The researchers on this team include Dr. Sharon Warren, Karen Turpin and Dr. Milke. Data collection is finished and the project is currently in the analysis stage.

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Selected Publications

Milke, D.L., Beck, C.H.M. & Danes, S. (2006). Meeting the needs in continuing care of facility-based residents diagnosed with dementia: Comparison of ratings by families, direct care staff, and other staff. The Journal of Applied Gerontology, 25(2), 103-119.

Chuck, A.W., Milke, D.L., & Beck C.H.M. (2005). The degree of bedroom personalisation in institutional and homelike settings for persons with dementia: A quantitative investigation. Canadian Journal on Aging, 2(4), 329-337.

Algase, D.L., Beattie, E.R.A., Song, J., Milke, D.L., Duffield, C., & Cowan, B. (2004). Validation of the Algase Wandering Scale (AWS-V2) in a cross cultural sample. Aging and Mental Health, 8(2), 133-142.

Song, J., Algase, D.L., Beattie, E.R.A., Milke, D.L., Duffield, C., & Cowan, B. (2003) Comparison of U.S., Canadian, and Australian participants’ performance on the Algase Wandering Scale Version 2 (AWS-V2). Research and Theory for Nursing Practice: An International Journal, 17(3), 241-256.

Malott, O., & Milke, D. L. (2002). Environmental design in long term care. In M. Stephenson & E. Sawyer (Ed.) Continuing the Care: The Issues and Challenges Long-term Care. Ottawa, ON: Canadian Hospital Association Press.

Rosenkranz, S., Milke, D. L., & Rust, T. (2002). Evaluation of The CAPITAL CARE Group's restraint reduction initiative. Edmonton, AB: The CAPITAL CARE Group. (Technical Report)

Milke, D. L., Nikiforuk, C., Ulmer, K., & Sellers, D. (2002). Dementia prevalence in The Capital CARE Group. Edmonton, AB: The CAPITAL CARE Group.

Milke, D.L., Clark, C., & Bucknell, M. (2000). Guidelines for providing illumination for elderly residents based on an evaluation of lighting at McConnell Place North & McConnell Place West. (Technical Report, 4pp)

Milke, D. L., Clark, C., & Bucknell, M. (2000). Assessing the Adequacy of Residential Lighting in Two Care Centre for Persons with Alzheimer’s Disease Using the New Age-Adjusted North American Illumination Recommendations. Toronto, ON: Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation. (Research Report)

Milke, D. L., Beck, C. H. M., & Ledewitz, S. (1999). A Five-Site Comparison of Care Settings Built on the ‘Woodside Place Model’: An Evaluation of Resident Needs and Outcomes and Their Relationship to Physical Features, Staffing, and Programming. Technical report (ms 124 p.).

Milke, D. L. (1996). Environmental design in the facility-based long term care sector: Looking to the future. In E. Sawyer (Ed.) Issues and challenges in the Canadian long-term care sector (pp. 293-326). Ottawa, ON: Canadian Hospital Association Press.

Milke, D. L. (1994). Facility Design Issues for Continuing Care Centres: A Discussion Paper Commissioned by The Long Term Care Facilities Sector Role Statement Working Group. Edmonton, AB: Alberta Health. (52 p. monograph reviewed for acceptance by 20 experts in the field)

Milke, D. L. (1992). Wandering tracks: Environmental strategies that may work too well. In G. Gutman (Ed.) Shelter and care of persons with dementia (pp. 133-149). Burnaby, BC: The Gerontology Research Centre, Simon Fraser University.

Rule, B. G., Milke, D. L., & Dobbs, A. R. (1992). Design of institutions: Cognitive functioning and social interactions of the aged resident. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 11, 475-488.

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Professional Affiliations

Special Interest Group on Aging
SIGA is a collaboration of researchers in the University of Alberta’s Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine who are interested in conducting researcher in aging-related areas. Members of this group come from variety of backgrounds, such as Speech Language Pathology, Psychology and Occupational Therapy.

Vet-link
Vet-link is a new, interdisciplinary network that has developed to facilitate efforts to meet Canadian veterans' current and emerging health care needs through research collaboration. Network partners co-operate on funded research on themes of mutual interest and transfer of knowledge to improve services for clients, and contribute to national policy and program development where possible.

Alberta Association on Gerontology
AAG is a province-wide interdisciplinary organization that seeks to enhance the lives of the aging population through support of persons involved in and concerned with gerontology. One of its goals is to provide a vehicle for networking among individuals and organizations interested in gerontology in Alberta and to stimulate the development of opportunities that enhance the knowledge and practice of people interested in gerontology in Alberta.

Canadian Association on Gerontology
CAG is a national, multidisciplinary scientific and educational association established to provide leadership in matters related to the aging population. It seeks to improve the lives of older Canadians through the creation and dissemination of knowledge in gerontological policy, practice, research and education.

Environmental Design Research Organiztion
EDRA is an international, interdisciplinary organization founded in 1968 by design professionals, social scientists, students, educators, and facility managers. The purpose of EDRA is the advancement and dissemination of environmental design research, thereby improving understanding of the interrelationships between people, their built and natural surroundings, and helping to create environments responsive to human needs.

Gerontological Society of America
The GSA is a non-profit professional organization with more than 5000 members in the field of aging. GSA provides researchers, educators, practitioners, and policy makers with opportunities to understand, advance, integrate, and use basic and applied research on aging to improve the quality of life as one ages. Dr. Milke is a member of several sections (Behavioural & Social Sciences Section; Social Research, Policy & Practice Section) and interest groups (Physical Environments & Aging, Researchers Based in Long Term Care and Alzheimer's Disease Research).

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