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Center for the Study of Aging

The RAND Center for the Study of Aging conducts objective, independent, behavioral research on elderly populations worldwide.

The Center's interdisciplinary research staff aims to help improve public policy through both primary data collection and secondary data analysis. Its research agenda focuses on the interrelationships among health, economic status, socioeconomic factors, and public policy.

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News and Events

The Cost of Dementia: Who Will Pay? — Apr 30, 2013

Couple reviewing finances with an advisor

It is time for the government in partnership with industry to return to the drawing board to craft a plan that will provide protection for the more than 9 million people who will need care for dementia by 2040, writes Michael D. Hurd.

Dementia's Growing Cost to Caregivers — Apr 29, 2013

Young woman and grandfather sitting hand in hand at table

At the rate that the U.S. population is aging, the total cost of dementia could reach half a trillion dollars a year by 2040. Those who care for impaired relatives and friends are acutely aware of the effects of dementia, and unfortunately they are all too familiar with its costs, writes Kathleen J. Mullen.

Cost of Dementia Tops $157 Billion Annually in the United States — Apr 3, 2013

an elderly couple, man possibly with dementia

The monetary cost of dementia in the United States ranges from $157 billion to $215 billion annually, making the disease more costly to the nation than either heart disease or cancer. The greatest cost is associated with providing institutional and home-based long-term care rather than medical services.

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What Economic and Health Effects Has the Financial Crisis Had on Older Households?

What effect has the financial crisis had on households and health? RAND researchers seek to quantify the effects of the crisis on older U.S. households, and the adjustments made in response. With this information, they aim to determine whether downturns in economic status are associated with declines in health.

Is It Possible to Compare Life Satisfaction Around the World?

To understand what influences life satisfaction in different countries, it is important to correct for cultural differences in how people answer subjective questions. The RAND Center for the Study of Aging is attempting to increase the comparability of response scales across national boundaries.

International Comparisons of Well-Being, Health and Retirement

By using newly available data from more than 15 countries, researchers are analyzing how the interaction between individual behavior, social context, institutions, and policies shapes health and well-being in old age.