Disregarding these method ological obstacles could implicitly lead to discrimination against the elderly in terms of health promotion and disease prevention and , hence , an age-based rationing of public health care
Background In the light of demographic developments health promotion interventions for older people are gaining importance .
In addition to method ological challenges arising from the economic evaluation of health promotion interventions in general , there are specific method ological problems for the particular target group of older people .
There are especially four main method ological challenges that are discussed in the literature .
They concern measurement and valuation of informal caregiving , accounting for productivity costs , effects of unrelated cost in added life years and the inclusion of ‘ beyond-health ’ benefits .
This paper focuses on the question whether and to what extent specific method ological requirements are actually met in applied health economic evaluations .
A cost-benefit analysis of three older adult fall prevention interventions.
INTRODUCTION One out of three persons aged 65 and older falls annually and 20 % to 30 % of falls result in injury . The purpose of this cost-benefit analysis was to identify community-based fall interventions that were feasible , effective , and provided a positive return on investment ( ROI ) . METHODS A third-party payer perspective was used to determine the costs and benefits of three effective fall interventions . Intervention effectiveness was based on r and omized controlled trial results . National data were used to estimate the average annual benefits from averting the direct medical costs of a fall . The net benefit and ROI were estimated for each of the interventions . RESULTS For the  Otago Exercise Program delivered to persons aged 65 and older , the net benefit was $ 121.85 per participant and the ROI was 36 % for each dollar invested . For Otago delivered to persons aged 80 and older , the net benefit was $ 429.18 and the ROI was 127 % . Tai chi : Moving for Better Balance had a net benefit of $ 529.86 and an ROI of 509 % and Stepping On had a net benefit of $ 134.37 and an ROI of 64 % . CONCLUSIONS All three fall interventions provided positive net benefits . The ROIs showed that the benefits not only covered the implementation costs but also exceeded the expected direct program delivery costs . These results can help health care funders and other community organizations select appropriate and effective fall interventions that also can provide positive returns on investment
Disregarding these method ological obstacles could implicitly lead to discrimination against the elderly in terms of health promotion and disease prevention and , hence , an age-based rationing of public health care
Background In the light of demographic developments health promotion interventions for older people are gaining importance .
In addition to method ological challenges arising from the economic evaluation of health promotion interventions in general , there are specific method ological problems for the particular target group of older people .
There are especially four main method ological challenges that are discussed in the literature .
They concern measurement and valuation of informal caregiving , accounting for productivity costs , effects of unrelated cost in added life years and the inclusion of ‘ beyond-health ’ benefits .
This paper focuses on the question whether and to what extent specific method ological requirements are actually met in applied health economic evaluations .