Scientists develop online end-of-life calculator to predict how long senior citizens have left to live by asking questions about underlying conditions and whether or not they can perform daily activities

DAILYMAIL.COM ^ | MARY KEKATOS

[BenLurkin]

A team from the University of Ottawa, in Ontario, Canada, says its Risk Evaluation for Support: Predictions for Elder-Life in the Community Tool (RESPECT) can accurately project death within six months.

Researchers based the tool on data from more than 491,000 elderly people who received home care between 2007 and 2013.

The team says its tool is undergoing a pilot study in community settings in Ontario and hopes that physicians and home care staff use the calculator to help them understand the care their patients may need.

Researchers say the tool focuses on older adults who use or need home care and are likely to die within the next five years.

To use the calculator, users answer 17 questions about their or their family member's health and ability to care for themselves.

Researchers found declines in the ability to carry out day-to-day activities - such as preparing meals or going to the bathroom - were bigger predictors of mortality than pre-existing conditions.

'Knowing how long a person has to live is essential in making informed decisions about what treatments they should get and where they should get them,'

[MayflowerMadam]

Haven’t insurance people been doing this for decades with their actuarial calculations?

[dfwgator]

“Do you have any information that will lead to the arrest and conviction of Hillary Clinton?”

If you answer “yes”, it will say “You have six hours left.”