Background By 2030, adults over 60 years are expected to be higher than the number of children under 10 years globally. Currently, over two thirds of people over 65 years of age are living with multi-morbidities. With increasing disparities in health care and determinants of health, there are major health and social care system implications worldwide. Evidence and Gap Maps are used to highlight gaps in research and inform strategic health and social policy, program and research priorities. The objective of this Campbell Evidence and Gap Map is to identify health and social support services as well as mobility devices that support functional ability among older adults in the home.

Methods We developed our intervention-outcome framework and defined the scope by adapting the WHO International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health framework and consulting with our stakeholders. We systematically searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, PsycINFO, AgeLine, Campbell Library and other databases. We conducted a focused search for grey literature and protocols of studies. Studies were selected for inclusion based on study design, setting and population. We assessed methodological quality of systematic reviews using the AMSTAR II. To assess health inequalities, we coded whether studies measured effects of interventions across the PROGRESS framework (i.e. place of residence, race/ethnicity, occupation, gender/sex, religion, education, socioeconomic status, and social capital).

Results We retrieved 16,083 records and included 548 studies, (120 reviews and 428 randomized trials) in this map. Most studies (56%, n=310) were focused on health services. Only 23 studies focused on general social support services. Nine studies focused on personal indoor and outdoor mobility and transportation, and 15 studies focused on design, construction and building products and technology. Most studies were from high income countries (n=532 out of 548). Of the 120 included systematic reviews, 46% of reviews were critically low quality (n=55), and only 11% of reviews were high quality. No studies assessed effects of interventions on health inequalities.

Conclusion There is a gap in the evidence-base on studies of effectiveness focused on general social support services and design, construction and building products and technology. The lack of evidence from low and lower-middle income countries points to the need for more high-quality reviews and trials in these settings. This is particularly important since these regions are experiencing a quicker growth in population ageing compared to high income countries.