The Costs of Aging-in-Place for Frail Older People

Many countries are experiencing an aging population; there are greater numbers of older people than ever before. Older people often prefer to remain in their home and communities as they age. Some older people experience health changes that mean they need supports to live in the community. This is particularly true for frail older people, those who have multiple health conditions and who generally have a harder time recovering from illness or injury. Supports to live in the community for frail older people are often associated with out-of-pocket expenses that are not covered by health insurance. These costs have to be paid by frail older people themselves or their families or friends who care for them, and can contribute to financial burden and decisions to move into long-term care facilities. We will conduct a systematic scoping review of the literature to find research studies and other literature that discuss the out-of-pocket expenses for frail older people living in the community and their caregivers. This review will be supported by consultations with frail older people and their caregivers, as well as stakeholder such as policy makers, community organizations and companies that provide support in the community. The scoping review will help us identify areas where further research will help to better understand the costs of aging in place, as well as summarize the types of research that have already been done. Identifying the literature that reports the out-of-pocket costs of aging-in-place for frail older people is a first step to developing better supports for addressing the costs of living in the community for frail older people and to help older people plan for staying at home as they age.