AoA-funded Older Adult Falls Programs: A Retrospective Cost Study

Introduction: Falls and fall-related injuries are a public health problem that can seriously affect older adults' quality of life and are a significant burden to our health care system. The current analysis examines the lifecycle costs of three Administration on Aging (AoA)-funded falls programs. Methods: As part of a contract with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH) developed, pilot tested, and disseminated a cost collection tool for Matter of Balance, Stepping On, and Tai Chi: Moving for Better Balance. The tool was designed in consultation with the programs to collect the lifecycle costs of starting up and maintaining a program. Investment costs capture equipment, program manuals, and instructor training and materials, while maintenance costs capture staff labor, instructor refresher training, manual reproduction, new equipment, facilities, and insurance. Completed cost tools were returned over 16 months using Microsoft Excel. Results: A total of 34 AoA-funded sites were recruited and by December 2010, 26 sites had submitted completed cost tools. Based on collected data, Tai Chi cost the least in terms of annual average cost per participant completion at $194.69; Stepping On and Matter of Balance cost $654.40 and $1,346.83, respectively. The majority of costs reported across all programs were maintenance costs, while the majority of costs incurred were staff costs. Conclusion: AoA-funded falls programs vary in how they spend monies and report costs. The AoA and CDC should collaborate to develop a cost collection tool for funded falls programs to use prospectively in the future.