Education

• PhD, USC, 1983
• MPA, USC, 1975
• MSW, USC, 1975
• BA, Manhattanville College, 1970

Research

• Economic security
• Protecting vulnerable elders
• Improving health and long term services and support

Overview

Kathleen Wilber, PhD, focuses on improving health outcomes and quality of life for vulnerable elders, including those with chronic illness, disability, cognitive impairment, and/or economic insecurity by improving the design and delivery of LTSS. Her group’s current projects include:

1. evaluating the effectiveness and cost effectiveness of the Elder Abuse Forensic Center model, a multidisciplinary team that links health and social services with the justice system;
2. examining economic security indicators among diverse groups of older adults;
3. developing a universal assessment for the State of California’s in-home Medicaid services; and
4. determining how state, local market, and facility characteristics interact with individual characteristics to influence residents’ transitions from nursing facilities to community care.

Some past research projects have evaluated wellness interventions among frail older adults, models of integrated health care, and the role of care management in reducing costs and improving outcomes.