Challenges and supports for ageing well with spinal cord injury: a scoping review

To identify the scope of current knowledge concerning challenges and supports for people ageing with spinal cord injury (SCI) and determine evidence gaps that must be addressed to guide policy development, education, and clinical practice to help people to age well. A scoping review methodology was selected to systematically investigate the current state of knowledge on the experience, challenges, barriers, and enablers required for people ageing with SCI and identify gaps in knowledge. Ninety-eight studies fulfilled the eligibility criteria. The main themes identified were the ageing process, accelerated ageing, deterioration in mobility and self-care over time, the effects of ageing on social, leisure and productive life roles, and environmental impacts such as physical, social, policy and resources, and lack of knowledge about ageing with SCI. A lifelong multidisciplinary approach is required to support people ageing with SCI, to maintain health, quality of life and participation in meaningful roles, and to facilitate people’s ageing well. Disparities between the disability and aged-care funding systems must also be addressed to ensure equity of access to support for people ageing both with or without disability. There are many gaps in knowledge about ageing with SCI that require further research. The number of people ageing with spinal cord injury (SCI) is increasing and they are living longer; thus, appropriately supporting this cohort has individual, social, and economic benefits.In Australia, there is substantial inequality in financial support and access to healthcare, care support, and services for people ageing with SCI due to the disparity between ageing and disability services, impacting the ability of people with SCI to age well.Comprehensive, multidisciplinary medical and healthcare support throughout life is fundamental to ensuring proactive and regular monitoring of function and health and participation in meaningful and productive life roles. The number of people ageing with spinal cord injury (SCI) is increasing and they are living longer; thus, appropriately supporting this cohort has individual, social, and economic benefits. In Australia, there is substantial inequality in financial support and access to healthcare, care support, and services for people ageing with SCI due to the disparity between ageing and disability services, impacting the ability of people with SCI to age well. Comprehensive, multidisciplinary medical and healthcare support throughout life is fundamental to ensuring proactive and regular monitoring of function and health and participation in meaningful and productive life roles.