This study aims to examine the relationship between catastrophic health expenditure and health-related quality of life in older people, and to explore whether the daily care provided by adult children is a moderator in this relationship in in Shandong Province, China.
Catastrophic health expenditure (CHE) has a considerable impact on older people in later life. Findings show that CHE prevalence was high and significantly associated with lower health-related quality of life among older people and adult children providing daily care services to their parents mitigated the effect of catastrophic health expenditure on health-related quality of life among older people. The study suggests that vulnerable older people should be identified as a target population for priority protection in health policies.