• Monica Perlmutter, MA, OTR/L (Occupational Therapy)
• Dorothy Edwards, PhD (Occupational Therapy and Neurology)
• Lisa Connor, PhD (Occupational Therapy and Radiology)
• Mae Gordon, PhD (Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences)

The initial measures were developed as a part of my doctoral program. I have spent nearly 20 years (5 during my doctoral studies) developing the measurements for the model. The measures enable scholars in Occupational Therapy and other fields to study the factors that contribute to successful occupation and function in older adults. The tools have clinical utility and are being employed by practitioners in helping families who are experiencing difficulties to manage a person with cognitive impairments and deficits. Recently I have expanded the measurement model to include measurements of the environment. In addition to enabling home safety the measure is designed to recognize the need for environmental modifications to prevent accidents and falls.

The measures were developed initially for the Alzheimer's population and funded by 3 NIA/NIH grants (#5-P50 AG05681-15; #5 P50 AG05681-10; and #A603991). The measurement model is built into the James S. McDonnell Foundation Grant "Improving Cognitive Performance: Cognition, Neurobiological Mechanisms, Treatment, and Community Reintegration" (#JSMF 98.32 CRH-QUA.11 and 220020087). All of the measures are now being standardized on a recovering population (stroke and head injury), whereas previously they were standardized on a declining (Alzheimer's disease) population.

The McDonnell project has provided the funding to link the occupational performance measures with information from neuro-radiology, neurobiology, neurology, and cognitive neuroscience knowledge to study what people with cognitive loss can do functionally. We will be able to determine the relationship of the ability to function to the underlying neurobiological and cognitive mechanisms. The ultimate goal is to design effective rehabilitation strategies. I am also using the measures in a community dwelling sample of older adults to examine the impact of the visual changes of aging on daily occupations. This work will identify the visual competencies that support older adults to remain independent in their own communities and homes.

Governmental:

1995-2000 Investigator, Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center Satellite for Diagnosis and Treatment of African American Elderly, National Institute on Aging (5-P50 AG05681-15) $474,765 (Dorothy Edwards, PhD, Principal Investigator)

1991-1995 Investigator, Satellite for Diagnosis and Treatment of Minority and Low Income Elderly, as an administrative supplement to the Washington University Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, National Institute on Aging (5 P50 AG05681-10) $493,000 (Dorothy Edwards, PhD, Principal Investigator)

1983-1988 Co-Principal Investigator, Functional Behavior and Family Burden (Project 3) Healthy Aging and Senile Dementia Program Project, National Institute on Aging (A603991) $72,000 (Dorothy Edwards, PhD, Co-Principal Investigator)

Non-governmental:

2005-2008 Principal Investigator, James S. McDonnell Foundation Grant "Linking Neuroscience to Everyday Life" $1,800,000

2005-2007 Principal Investigator, McDonnell Center for Higher Brain Function, "Enhanced Image Access and Web-based Data Access" $500,000

2001-2004 Co-Principal Investigator, McDonnell 21st Century Collaborative Activity Award “Brain Recovery: Return of Cognition and Social Function” (JSMF 21002032) $2,000,000 (Alexander Dromerick, MD & Donald T. Stuss, PhD, Co-Investigators)

1998-2002 Co-Principal Investigator, James S. McDonald Foundation Grant “Improving Cognitive Performance: Cognition, Neurobiological Mechanisms, Treatment, and Community Reintegration” (JSMF 98.32 CRH-QUA.11) $600,000 (Alexander Dromerick, MD, Co-Principal Investigator; M. Corbetta, MD; T. Thach, MD; S. Peterson, MD; D. Edwards, PhD; R. Almli, PhD; J. Duchek, PhD)

1996-1998 Principal Investigator, Improving Cognitive Performance: Linking Biology, Environment, and Behavior, funded by James S. McDonnell Foundation (JSMF 96-42) $50,000

1995-1996 Co-Principal Investigator, Service utilization and quality of life in dementia of the Alzheimer’s type, funded by Janssen Pharmaceutical Research Foundation, $25,000 (Co-Principal Investigator Dorothy Edwards, PhD)

Mann M, Edwards D, Baum CM: OASIS: A new concept for promoting the quality of life for older adults. American Journal of Occupational Therapy 1986;40(11)784-786.

Baum CM, Edwards D, Leavitt K, Grant E, Deuel R: Performance components in senile dementia of the Alzheimer's type: motor planning, language and memory. Occupational Therapy Journal of Research 1988;8:356-368.

Edwards DF, Baum CM: Caregiver burden across stages of dementia. Occupational Therapy Practice 1990;2(1):17-31.

Baum CM: Addressing the needs of the cognitively impaired elderly from a family policy perspective. American Journal of Occupational Therapy 1991;45(7):594-606.

Edwards DF, Deuel RK, Baum CM, Morris JC: A quantitative analysis of apraxia in senile dementia of the Alzheimer type: stage related differences in prevalence and type. Dementia 1991;2:142-149.

Edwards DF, Baum CM, Deuel RM: Constructional apraxia in Alzheimer’s disease: contributions to functional loss. Physical and Occupational Therapy in Geriatrics 1991;9(3,4):53-68.

Baum CM, Edwards DF, Morrow-Howell N: Identification and measurement of productive behaviors in senile dementia of the Alzheimer type. The Gerontologist 1993;33(3):403-408.

Baum CM, Edwards D: Cognitive performance in senile dementia of the Alzheimer’s type: The kitchen task assessment. American Journal of Occupational Therapy 1993;47(5):431-436.

Baum CM, Storant M, Yonan C, Edwards D: The relation of neuropsychological test performance to performance of functional tasks in dementia of the Alzheimer type. Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology 1995; 11(1):69-75.

Baum CM: The contribution of occupation to function in persons with Alzheimer’s disease. Journal of Occupation Science: Australia 1995; 2(2):59-67.

Baum CM, Bachelder J: Rehabilitation of patients with progressive multiple sensory losses, including use of corrective lens and low vision aids. Seminars in Hearing 1995;16(3):281-286.

Baum CM, McGeary T, Pankiewicz R, Braford T, Edwards DF: An activity program for cognitively impaired low-income inner city residents. Topics in Geriatric Rehabilitation 1996; 12(2): 54-62.

Edwards DF, Baum CM: Functional performance of inner city African American older persons with dementia. Topics in Geriatric Rehabilitation 1996; 12(2): 17-27.

Edwards DF, Baum CM, Meisel M, Depke M, Williams J, Braford T, Morrow-Howell N, and Morris JC: Home-based multidisciplinary diagnosis and treatment of inner city elderly with dementia. The Gerontologist 1999; 39(4):483-488.

Edwards DF, Baum CM, Meisel M, Depke M, Williams J, Braford T, Morrow-Howell N, and Morris JC: Home-based multidisciplinary diagnosis and treatment of inner city elderly with dementia. The Gerontologist 1999; 39(4):483-488.

Baum CM, Edwards DF: Documenting Productive Behaviors: Using the Functional Behavior Profile to Plan Discharge Following Stroke. Journal of Gerontological Nursing April 2000, 26(4):34-43.

Everard KM, Lach HW, Fisher EB, Baum CM: Relationship of Activity and Social Support to the Functional Health of Older Adults. Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences 2000, 55B(4): S208-S212.

Baum CM, Perlmutter M & Edwards DF: Measuring Function in Alzheimer’s Disease. Alzheimer’s Care Quarterly Summer 2000, 1(3), 44-61.

Baum CM & Edwards DR: What Persons With Alzheimer's Disease Can Do: A Tool for Communication About Daily Activities. Alzheimer's Care Quarterly 2003, 4(2): 108-118.

Letts L, Baum C, & Perlmutter M: Person-Environment-Occupation Assessment with Older Adults. OT Practice, June 2, 2003, 27-34.

Edwards DF, Hahn MG, Baum C, Permutter MS, Sheedy C, Dromerick AW: Screening Patients with Stroke for Rehabilitation Needs: Validation of the Post-Stroke Rehabilitation Guidelines. The American Society of Neurorehabilitation 2006, 20(1): 42-48.

Edwards DF, Hahn M, Baum C, Dromerick AW: The Impact of Mild Stroke on Meaningful Activity and Life Satisfaction. Journal of Stroke & Cerebrovascular Diseases 2006, 15 (5): 151-157.

Baum CM, Perlmutter M, Hollingsworth, Bhorade A, Coleman A & Kass M: Engagement in Everday Activity: the roles of vision, cognition and depression. (submitted).

Baum CM, Edwards DF, Morrison T, Hahn M, & Dromerick MA. The Rliability, Validity, and Clinical Utility of the Executive Function Performance Test: A measure of executive function in a sample of persons with stroke. (Submitted)

Hardman-Maeir A, Katz N, Baum C: Cognitive-Functional Profile (CFP) for individuals with suspected cognitive disabilities. (Submitted February 2007).

Invited Publications:

1) Hunt-Fine L, Baum CM, Lottes LM: Institutional settings for geriatric occupational treatment practice. In: Robertson, S. & Kirkland, M. (Eds). Role of occupational therapy and the elderly, Rockville, MD: American Occupational Therapy Association 1985;139-144.

2) Baum CM, Luebben AJ: Assessing community resources to support independent living. In: Kirkland, M. and Robertson, S. (Eds.). Planning and Implementing Vocational Readiness in Occupational therapy 1985;95-98.

3) Baum CM: Identification and use of environmental resources. In (eds) Christiansen, C.& Baum, M.C. Occupational therapy: overcoming human performance deficits. Thoroughfare, New Jersey: Slack, Inc. 1991;788-802.

4) Baum CM: Cognitive rehabilitation: an adaptive approach. Royeen, C. (Ed.) Cognitive Rehabilitation Rockville, MD: American Occupational Therapy Association 1993.

5) Baum CM, LaVesser P: Caregiver assistance: using family members and attendants. Christiansen, C. (Ed.) Activities of Daily Living Activities. Rockville, MD: American Occupational Therapy Association 1993.

6) Baum CM: Supporting the family: Strategies for managing neurological deficits in Alzheimer’s and related disorders. The Goldies S. Cohen Memorial Conference, Newton, Pennsylvania: Associates in Medical Marketing Company, Inc. 1995; 27-32.

7) Baum CM: Women as care providers and care receivers: Effective strategies. In (eds) Krotoski, D.M., Nosek, M.A., & Turk, M.A. Women with Physical Disabilities: Achieving and Maintaining Health and Well-Being. Baltimore: Paul. H. Brookes 1996; 243-257.

8) Baum CM: Achieving Effectiveness with a Client-Centered Approach: A Person-Environment Interaction. In Gray, Quatrano, & Lieberman (Eds.), Designing and Using Assistive Technology: The Human Perspective. National Institute of Health Conference Proceedings. Baltimore: Paul H. Brookes 1998; 137-146.

9) Baum CM: Client-Centered Practice in a Changing Health Care System. In (Ed) Law M: Client-Centered Occupational Therapy, Thorofare, NJ: SLACK 1998; 29-44.

10) Baum CM & Gray D: People with Disabilities, Their Families and Rehabilitation Services: Minimizing the Impact of Disability on Personal Relationships. In (Eds) McCall & Bichenbach, Introduction to Disability, Edinburgh: Harcourt Brace, 1998.

11) Baum, CM & Katz N. Occupational Therapy Approach to Assessing the Relationship between cognition and function in Marcotte, T & Grant, I (eds). Everyday Functioning: translating laboratory performances to real world. Guilford Press. (in press)