She is known nationally for her research in urinary incontinence and dementia, especially in persons who live in long-term care facilities. Specht also is a co-founder and partner in Liberty Country Living in North Liberty, Iowa, an innovative community supported living facility for people with Alzheimer's disease. She currently has a project funded by the UI's Gerontological Nursing Interventions Research Center to study a treatment for urinary incontinence in nursing homes.