Table 2 Characteristics of study participants

 Adeniji 2015

N = 486. mean 70 (range 31–91)

52

COPD, coronary heart disease, diabetes, osteoarthritis, depression

Median: 7; range: 2–20

Not reported

13% in paid jobs; no further details. 68% owned cars

Not reported

60% completed school/GCSE as a minimum level of education

 Ancker 2015

N = 22 mean age = 64 (range 37–89)

50

Hypertension, heart disease, chronic pain, depression, asthma, HIV, hepatitis C & diabetes

Mean = 3.5 (SD 1.5). Minimum 2 conditions.

32% black

32% had Medicare, 32% had Medicaid & 36% had commercial insurance

68% not currently married

Not reported

36% English as second language. > 80% over the age of 55 yrs.

 Ansari 2014

N = 17 Mean age 67; (range 43–84)

47

High cholesterol, hypertension, depression & smoking, COPD, arthritis

Range 1–7

Mostly Caucasian

Not reported, sample ranges from student to employed to retired, 11% unemployed and 1 person (5%) volunteer

65% live with spouse; 30% live alone; 5 (one person) live with a grandchild

9 had some high school education, the rest higher including 6 university

 Barstow 2015

N = 8. mean age was 79 years (range 66–92).

75

Arthritis- 88% hypertension- 62% hypotension- 25% cancer- 50% osteoporosis- 38% hearing impairment- 38% cardiac/circulatory system problems- 51% kidney problems- 37% digestive problems- 25% urinary system problems- 25% pulmonary problems- 13%

It was assessed using the General Health Questionnaire

White

Not reported

Not reported

Not reported

 Bayliss 2007

N = 16 Range: 31–70 years.

66

Osteoarthritis, depression & diabetes

38% had 4–9; 62% had 10–16 conditions

Ethnicity: 11% Hispanic/Latino; 88% other. Race: 90% white; 8% other; 2% black African American

76% less than USD 45,000; 17% more than 45,000.

53% married; 14% divorced/ separated; 2% never married; 29% widowed.

35% High-school educated; 10% some high school or less; 31% some college/ 2 year degree; 22% 4 year college degree.

 Bayliss 2003

N = 352 55% in age range of 65–74; 45% were 75 and above

81

Hypertension, COPD, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, asthma, musculoskeletal disorders, history of depression, vision problems, coronary arterial disease, migraine, obesity, gastroesophageal reflux, congestive heart failure, depression, osteoarthritis & diabetes, history of depression

Median: 4; range: 2–7

All white

7: <  15, 000; 8: >  15,000 ranging up to 60,000 USD

Not reported

At least high school education. High school graduate: 2; Some college: 7; College graduate: 5; Post-college: 2

 Beverly 2011

N = 32. mean 75.3 ± 7.4; range 60–88

56.3

Hypertension, retinopathy, hypercholesterolemia coronary artery disease neuropathy, cardiac arrhythmia, hypothyroidism, depression, myocardial infarction, asthma, chronic pain, presbycusis, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, leukaemia, nephropathy, prostate cancer, insomnia, diabetes, arthritis and cancer

Mean 5.2; Range 3–9

100% white

Not reported, 94% retired

72% married

Mean 14.6 years of education; range 9–20

 Bunn 2017

N = 28, median age 82.5, range 59–94

36

Alzheimer’s disease 56%, mixed dementia 19%, vascular dementia 17%, Parkinson’s with dementia 8%, diabetes, stroke, vision impairment

Not reported

85% white-majority British white

Not reported

78% patients lived with a carer

Not reported

 Burton 2016

N = 30. Age 65–95

53

Diabetes, arthritis, cancer, stroke, hypertension, high cholesterol, angina, gout, cardiovascular disease

Not reported

All white except one South Asian

Not reported

15/30 live alone, 13 live with partner and 2 with a family member

Not reported

 Cheraghi-Sohi 2013

N = 30. mean 69; range 55–86

60

Osteoarthritis, cancer, diabetes

Mean 4; Range 2–9

Not reported

Not reported

Not reported

Not reported

 Clarke 2014

N = 35. Mean age of men 78.6. Mean women 80.3. Range 73–91

54

Back problems/ cataracts/ glaucoma/ heart disease, cancer, diabetes, arthritis

Range: 3–14; average 6

African 1, Asian/ South Asian 3, European 7, North American 23, South American 1

< 15,000 4, 15–24,999 4, 25–34,999 7, 35–44,999 3, 45–54,999 6, 55–64 1.65–74 1, 75–84 5

Participants lived in own home or retirement home. Currently married/ common law 13, divorced/ separated 5, never married 4, widowed 13

College/University 6, graduate school 7, high school 9, some high school 7, technical school 6

 Coventry 2014

N = 20 age Mean age 66.2 (54–88).

Not reported

Depression, COPD, cardiovascular disease, asthma, diabetes, arthritis

Median: 2.55; range: 2–4

Not reported

Not reported

Not reported

Not reported

 DiNapoli 2016

N = 28. Mean age 63.4 SD 6.3

22

Not identified on the excel

CIRG score mean 14.1 SD 3.3 &

64% White, rest not reported

4/28 working. 1 self-employed, 17 retired, 6 unemployed

61% non-married, 39% married

High-school educated (education mean: 13.71 ± 2.35)

 Fortin 2005

N = 25. mean 72.7 SD 8.2

60

Diabetes, others not reported

Mean 14.4 SD 4.5

Not reported

Only 20% had more than 50,000 income, the rest mostly between 10,000 and 40,000

48% were married, 32% widowed 8% divorced/ separated and 12% never married

76% had up to grade 12 education, 16% college and 4% university education

 Fried 2008

N = 66. Age 65 and older; >  75+  6 participants

67

Hypertension, diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, congestive heart failure, chronic lung disease, depression, arthritis, falls, urinary incontinence, osteoporosis

Median: 5; range 3–8;

76% white, 23% white, 1% other, 3% Latino

Not reported

48% lived alone. 39% married

 Gill 2014

N = 28. mean age: 82.3 (SD 7.7);

44

Not reported

Median 5 (SD 2.4)

Not reported

Not reported

82% of the caregivers were spousal caregivers

Most pts. and caregivers had more than high school education and lived in a single-family home

 Hansen 2015

N = 21. mean 77 (70–88)

47

Hypertension, lower back pain, diabetes, cancer, arthritis, osteoporosis, cardiac arrhythmias, cerebral ischemia, lower limb varicosities, prostatic hyperplasia, vision reduction, gout, intestinal diverticulosis, psoriasis, atherosclerosis, renal insufficiency, cardiac valve disorders, gallstones, cardiac insufficiency, anemias, neuropathies, migraine, urinary tract calculi, dizziness, hemorrhoids, gynecological problems

Not reported

Not reported

Not reported

Married: men 72%; women 40%; Widow: men 9%; women 40%; Divorced: men 9%; women 9%; Never married: men 9%

7 patients had a low education level; 7 had a medium level, and 6 had a high level

 Kuluski 2013

N = 28. mean age: 82.3 (7.7 SD)

44

Not reported

4.61 (SD 2.43)

96% Caucasian, 4% other

85% can support self financially

70% live in a single-family home; 15% apartment; 7% retirement home. 67% married; 33% other.

70% greater than high school; 30% high school diploma or less

 Lo 2016

N = 58; median age 67 (range 48–84)

29

Chronic kidney disease stage 3–5, depression, diabetes

Not reported

Majority of focus group participants were Caucasian (72.4%), South Asian (13.8%), Asian (10.3%), Pacific Islander (1.7%) or Hispanic (1.7%)

Not reported

Not reported

Not reported

 Loeb 2003

N = 37 older adults. Mean age 72; range 55–88

70

Not reported

Mean 4.5; Range 2–11

100% Caucasian

Not reported

100% independent and community dwelling.

Not reported

 Mason 2016

N = 37. Mean 76; range 55–92

38

Heart, respiratory, liver and renal failure, neurological conditions and mild dementia

Not reported

Not reported

Not reported

Not reported

Not reported

 McDonnall 2016

N = 131. Mean age 69.9 (range of 55 to 99)

62

Hearing and vision loss

Not reported

89% white, 4% African American, 3% American Indian, 1% Hispanic, 1.5% mixed and other unknown

Not reported

Private residence/ living alone 36%; private residence with spouse or others (53%); Retirement or assistive living facility (8%).

Not reported

 Morales-Asencio 2016

N = 18. mean age 73.6 years

61

Diabetes, arthritis, cancer, cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory, congestive heart failure, COPD/ asthma/ renal impairment

Not reported

Not reported

Participants from working class neighborhoods, and in some cases, significantly limited living conditions

Two patients had no family caregiver. Participants lived in working class neighborhoods

Not reported

All were receiving home care

 Naganathan 2016

N = 28. Mean 82.3

43

Not reported

Average 5; interquartile range of 3–7

Not reported

Not reported

70% lived in a single home.

70% had higher education

19% patients reported currently receiving home care; 96% receiving support from family caregiver, 70% from friends and neighbors, 26% from community programs

 Noël 2005

N = 60. Age range 30s–80s no mean age provided

20

Not reported

Not reported

Majority white; African- Americans and Hispanics

Not reported

4 urban clinics and 4 rural clinics

Not reported

All veterans

 Ravenscroft 2010

N = 20. 30% >74y; 45% 65-74y; 25% 45–64

55

Cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, diabetes

Except one patient, all had 3 or more chronic conditions, majority with 3 or 4 stage chronic kidney disease

Caucasian 90%; black 10%

20% employed; 70% retired; 10% unemployed.

55% married; 30% widowed; 15% single. Participants: city - 85%; rural - 15%

60% beyond high school; 20% high school; 20%; less than high school

Home language - 80% English exclusively; 20% other

 Richardson 2016

N = 33. 12% (51–60); 67% (61–70); 12% (71–80); 9% (81–90)

6

Diabetes, arthritis, cancer, hypertension, chronic pain, heart disease,

Mean = 6; Range 3–11

82% White; 18% black; 3% Hispanic; 97% non-Hispanic

12% under 10,000; 15% 10,000–19,999; 30% 20,000–39,999; 18% 40,000–49,999; 9% 50,000 + .

64% married; 33 divorced; 3 widowed

3% did not complete HS; 18% high school grad; 52% some college; 27% college or higher

 Roberge 2016

N = 10. 5 were 60 years or older.

50

Depression; anxiety; cardiovascular diseases; pulmonary conditions & musculoskeletal conditions

Not reported

Not reported

Not reported

7/10 married or lived with a partner

7/10 had high school degree or less

 Roberto 2005

N = 17. mean 76.1 (range 69–84)

100

Diabetes, heart disease, osteoporosis

mean 4.1; range 2–6

Not reported

Monthly income: two < 750; six 750–1000; one 1001–1299; Two 1300–1999; One 2000–2999; Two 3000–3900; three not reported.

11 Widowed; 1 Single; 4 Married; 1 Divorced. 11 lived alone, 1 with son, 1 with daughter, 4 with husband.

3 greater than high school; 12 high school; 2 < high school

 Ryan 2016

1805 were qualified as high need: 1274 Multiple complex chronic conditions; 379 under 65 disabled; 152 frail elderly. 82% 50 years and older with high needs.

52

Diabetes

Not reported

White, non-Hispanic: 64; Black, non-Hispanic: 10 & Hispanic: 15

The high needs population has lower level of income than the general US population

Not reported

The high needs population has lower level of education than the general US population

 Schoenberg 2011

N = 20. Mean age 55

85%

Heart disease or hypertension; arthritis; type 2 diabetes; cancer; stroke; and other illnesses

Mean of 4

95% white

65% less than $10,000

20% $10,001–15,000 5% $15,001–20,000

10% $20,001–25,000.

55% married. Most lived with at least one other person

15% had less than high school

25% attended some high school

55% earned a high school diploma or equivalent

5% had some postsecondary education

All unemployed. Average length of stay in county is 36 years.

70% had no health insurance. Those who did report insurance, indicated Medicaid, Medicare, or disability coverage.

 Sheridan 2012

33 were aged 55–74 and 13 were 75+

50

Cardiovascular, COPD, congestive heart failure, depression, gout, diabetes, arthritis

Most had 3+ chronic conditions

32/42 were from ethic minority groups: 19 pacific, 12 Samoans, Maori 8 and Asian 3.

Lowest socioeconomic class quintile in Auckland

33 lived with family, 6 alone and 3 in residential care. 33 lived with family, 6 lived alone, 3 lived in residential care.

Not reported

 Zulman 2015

N = 53. Mean 59 (SD =11)

26

Diabetes, arthritis, cancer, hypertension, chronic pain, depression, headaches, PTSD, Lung/breathing problems, prostate problems

Mean 5 (SD 2)

White, non-Hispanic 81%; Black, non-Hispanic 6%; Hispanic 9%; Other, non-Hispanic 13%

<$50,000 43%; $50,001–$75,000 16%; >$75,001 41%

Not reported

High school degree or less 8%; some college + 44%; college degree or more 48%

Year and author

Sample size and mean age

Years of experience

 Ancker 2015

N = 7, no age provided

Not collected

 Bardach 2012

N = 12, age range 31–47.

3–22 years

 Barstow 2015

N = 59, no age provided

OT experience:<  10 year 25%, 10–20 45% & > 20 30%; Low vision experience: <  10 68.3%,10–20

 Bunn 2017

56 health care providers, no age provided

Not reported

 Coventry 2014

N = 20, no age provided

18 (5–36)

 Gill 2014

N = 4, no age provided

Not reported

 Grundberg 2016

N = 25, age range 31–83.

range 4 months −34 years

 Hansen 2015

N = 15, mean age 53.4 (range 39–65)

14.6 years (7–28)

 Kuluski 2013

N = 4, no age provided

Mean: 3; 3 practiced for at least 10 years, 1 physician had practiced 1 year.

 Naganathan 2016

N = 4, no age provided

Not reported

 Roberge 2016

N = 18. Ae clinicians half were 30–39 years old

56% had > 10 years’ experience

 Smith 2010

Not reported

Author and year

Sample size

Age

%female

Education

Health

 Bunn 2017

N = 33

Median age 65, range 46–90

82%

Not reported

Not reported

 Gill 2014

N = 28

Mean age: 70.5; SD 11.3

79%

Most had more than high school education

Not reported

 Kuluski 2013

N = 28

70.5 (SD 11.3)

82%

Not reported

Not reported

 Lo 2016

N = 8

No description provided except that they were carers of chronic kidney disease Stage 5 patients

Not reported

Not reported

Not reported

 Mason 2016

N = 17

Not reported

Not reported

Not reported

Not reported

 Morales-Asencio 2016

N = 18

Not reported

Not reported

 Naganathan 2016

N = 28

70.5 (SD = 11.3) years of age

82%

64% > high school