Long-Term Care for Older Adults: Future Research
Needs
Structured Abstract
Objectives. To identify gaps in the current research on long-term care (LTC) for older adults that
limited the conclusions of the comparative effectiveness review (CER) “Long-Term Care for
Older Adults: A Review of Home and Community-Based Services Versus Institutional Care” in
order to inform those who conduct and fund research about the research needs on this topic.
Methods. We used a deliberative process to identify specific research needs and research design
considerations. We refined a list of evidence gaps from the CER and recruited a diverse
stakeholder panel to supplement this list of gaps. Based on stakeholder feedback about the
current policy environment and consumer preference for home and community-based services
(HCBS), we developed two sets of research questions and separated each set into methodological
questions and topical questions. The first set addressed the topic of the CER, which was the
comparison of LTC for older adults delivered through HCBS and in nursing homes (NHs). The
second set addressed broader LTC issues that stakeholders raised as salient for the current policy
environment; this set framed questions about these settings and services separately rather than as
a comparison. We sent both sets of research questions to stakeholders to rank by priority, and we
calculated unweighted and weighted scores based on their rankings. We identified breakpoints in
the weighted rankings that separated high- and moderate-/low-priority research questions. Highly
prioritized research questions were considered research needs. We discussed research design
considerations for research needs.
Results. Of 13 stakeholders invited to participate, 10 completed the ranking exercise. Among the
methodological questions for the comparison of LTC delivered through HCBS and in NHs, the
identification of standardized outcome measures for HCBS and NH recipients was the highest
priority. For the broader set of methodological questions about LTC through HCBS and in NHs,
the highest rankings were given to four questions related to outcome measures and descriptions
of the interventions. For the topical questions for the comparison of LTC delivered through
HCBS and in NHs, the highest rankings were given to questions related to the pattern of
transitions for LTC uses, and the factors leading to transitions. We also identified four highpriority
topical questions primarily related to the populations that benefit most from interventions
and the types of interventions that lead to improved outcomes. Future studies on LTC for older
adults should aim to reduce bias as much as possible through research design and statistical
techniques. Larger sample sizes will allow more research on subpopulations, and longer
followup times will allow a better understanding of how interventions may modify outcomes
over time.
Conclusions. The clinical and policy context of LTC is changing. Comparative effectiveness
may be less salient than understanding what makes such care effective in the first place for
various client groups. Therefore, we reported research needs related to the comparison of HCBS
and NH care that was the focus of the CER, and we also reported research needs from the
broader set of questions that stakeholders deemed important within the current policy