Center for Excellence in Assisted Living CEAL@UNC

Advancing the well-being of the people who live and work in assisted living through research, practice, and policy.

CEAL@UNC Research Award

The CEAL@UNC Research Award recognizes innovative and rigorous research published in the past calendar year that demonstrates promise to inform practice and/or policy to advance the well-being of those who live and work in assisted living. Each year, CEAL@UNC staff identify eligible papers and select 10 finalists based on innovation, methodological rigor, and alignment with the CEAL@UNC mission. The final recipient is chosen by members of the CEAL@UNC Advisory Board and Research Core.

See our Academic Publications section to learn more about these studies and other assisted living research.

2026 CEAL@UNC Research Award Finalists

A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial of Visual Cues, Signage, and Spaced Retrieval for Wayfinding within Long-Term Care Communities

Davis, R., Calkins, M., Sikorskii, A., & Brush, J.

A Qualitative Analysis of Safety Culture in Minnesota’s Assisted Living Facilities

Loomer, L., & Dauner, K. N.

Differing Realities Among Assisted Living Residents With Dementia: Understanding Care Partner Responses

Kemp, C. L., Anglin, E., Morgan, J. C., Perkins, M. M., Burgess, E. O., & Bender, A. A.

End-of-Life Outcomes and Staff Visits for Hospice Recipients Residing in Assisted Living

Guo, W., Cai, S., Li, Y., McGarry, B. E., Caprio, T. V., & Temkin-Greener, H.

Measurement of Quality in Assisted Living in the United States of America: A Scoping Review

Shippee, T. P., Akosionu-DeSouza, O., Beebe, T. J., Parikh, R. R., & Brasure, M.

Minnesota’s Assisted Living License: Engagement of Small Assisted Living Providers

Moone, R., Hakanson, M., & Shippee, T. P.

Review of State Regulations Related to Environmental Sanitation in Long-Term Care Facilities

Dissanayake, R., Johnson, E. E., Leong, M. E., & Fraser, A. M.

Trends in Assisted Living and Memory Care Supply from 2019 to 2023

Jutkowitz, E., Gadkari, G., Hsu, E. C., Tunalilar, O., Smith, L., Hua, C. L., Bunker, J. N., & Thomas, K. S.

Trends in Private Equity Acquisitions of Assisted Living Facilities

Bunker, J. N., Singh, Y., Gadkari, G., Bowblis, J., Smith, L., Carder, P., Huang, S., Rahman, M., & Thomas, K. S.

Understanding and Mapping the Antibiotic Prescribing and Administration Process in Assisted Living Facilities

Jacob, D., Chewning, B., & Ford, J. H.


Previous Awards

Learn more about the work of previous CEAL@UNC Research Award Recipients and Finalists

2025 Recipient and Finalists