Comparing End-of-Life Care for Older Adults Across Richer Countries
Official title: Comparing End-of-Life Care for Older Adults Across High-Income Countries: Implications for the U.S.
Funded at Harvard Medical School · NIH-11621208 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aims to understand how end-of-life care for older adults with serious illnesses differs in the US compared with other high-income countries.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Harvard Medical School NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2019 |
| Project end | June 30, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $55,793 |
| NIH project number | 3R01AG058878-06A1S7 |
| Project ID | NIH-11621208 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Older adults with poor-prognosis conditions who receive care in participating health systems across the included countries.
✕Less likely to help
Patients outside the studied countries or those not experiencing end-of-life care decisions may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project compares how older patients with serious illnesses are treated at the end of life across the US, Canada, England, the Netherlands, and Israel. It uses international data to examine care patterns, resource use, and outcomes to identify where care may be more patient-centered or more resource-intensive. The goal is to learn practical differences that could inform better, more compassionate care for patients facing limited prognosis in the United States.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could guide policies and practices to improve quality, alignment with patient preferences, and efficiency in end-of-life care.
How similar studies have gone: Prior international comparisons have produced influential papers in high-impact journals and shaped policy discussions.
Where this research is happening
-
Harvard Medical School
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Landon, Bruce E. — Harvard Medical School
- Study coordinator: Landon, Bruce E.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.