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International migration and health inequalities in later life
- Authors:
- LANARI Donatella, BUSSINI Odoardo
- Journal article citation:
- Ageing and Society, 32(6), August 2012, pp.935-962.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
This paper examined the differences in self-perceived health and depression between immigrants and native-born populations aged 50 years and older living in Western and Northern European countries. It examined the effect of country of origin, length of time in the host country and citizenship on the health of adults, using data from the Survey on Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe. Findings revealed that some immigrant groups were more likely to perceive worse self-rated health and to suffer from depression than native-born groups, even when demographic and socio-economic variables are taken into account. In particular, people born in Eastern Europe living in Germany, France and Sweden had the highest chances of poor health with respect to natives. Also, the perception of poor health rose as the length of stay increased. Results indicate that greater efforts by policy makers are needed in order to improve the health of specific middle-aged and older groups of immigrants.
Health inequalities amongst older people from ethnic minority groups in Britain
- Author:
- HOLDER Sharon M.
- Journal article citation:
- Generations Review, 18(3), July 2008, Online only
- Publisher:
- British Society of Gerontology
This study discusses planned research to investigate health inequalities amongst older people from different ethnic groups in Britain. It aims to examine how different socio-economic characteristics may be better explanatory factors in assessing the national evidence on health inequalities amongst older people from different ethnic groups. The research also aims to explores the sensitivity of different measures of socio-economic status for understanding health inequality in later life.
Social inequalities in self reported health in early old age: follow-up of prospective cohort study
- Authors:
- CHANDOLA Tarani, et al
- Journal article citation:
- British Medical Journal, 12.05.07, 2007, pp.990-993.
- Publisher:
- British Medical Association
This study aimed to describe differences in trajectories of self reported health in an ageing cohort according to occupational grade. A prospective cohort study of office based British civil servants (1985-2004) was used for the study. Participants were 10,308 men and women aged 35-55 at baseline, employed in 20 London civil service departments (the Whitehall II study); follow-up was an average of 18 years. Main outcome measures were physical component and mental component scores on SR-36 measured on five occasions. The results found physical health deteriorated more rapidly with age among men and women from the lower occupational grades. The average gap in physical component scores between a high and low grade civil servant at age 56 was 1.60 and this gap increased by 1 over 20 years. The average physical health of a 70 year old man or woman who was in a high grade position was similar to the physical health of a person from a low grade around eight years younger. In mid-life, this gap was only 4.5 years. Although mental health improved with age, the rate of improvement is slower for men and women in the lower grades. It is concluded that social inequalities in self reported health increase in early old age. People from lower occupational grades age faster in terms of a quicker deterioration in physical health compared with people from higher grades. This widening gap suggests that health inequalities will become an increasingly important public health issue, especially as the population ages.
Socio-economic disparity in the occurrence of disability among older adults in six low and middle income countries
- Authors:
- RAHMAN Mohammad Hifz Ur, SINGH Ashish
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Human Rights in Healthcare, 12(1), 2019, pp.60-75.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Purpose: Nearly 200m people in the world experience considerable functioning difficulties. Also, more than three-fourth of the population aged 50 years and over is suffering from some kind of disability in India, China, Ghana, Russia, Mexico and South Africa. Despite the compelling nature of this issue, evidence on socioeconomic disparity in the occurrence of disability is lacking throughout the world and particularly in the aforementioned countries. The purpose of this paper is twofold – first, to examine the socioeconomic inequalities in the prevalence of disability in the selected countries; and second, to investigate the cross-country differentials in the prevalence of disability by socioeconomic characteristics. Design/methodology/approach: The authors use data from the Study on Global Ageing and Adult Health (SAGE) conducted in China, Ghana, India, Mexico, Russia and South Africa during 2007–2010. Disability scores have been constructed using Item Response Theory Partial Credit Model based on eight health and functioning domains. Bivariate analysis, concentration curves, concentration indices and multivariate regressions have been used in the analysis presented in this paper. Findings: The authors find that the prevalence of disability varied considerably across sociodemographic groups. Moreover, this variation is not uniform across all countries. Also, age, Sex, work status, years of schooling and economic status emerged out as significant predictors of disability among the studied countries. Originality/value: This is perhaps the first study which examines the socioeconomic inequality in disability conceptualized in a comprehensive manner among older adults spread across low to upper middle income countries. The alarming level of prevalence of disability among sociodemographic disadvantage groups calls for immediate attention in terms of detailed study of risk factors, effective policy and timely intervention. (Publisher abstract)
Housing conditions and non-communicable diseases among older adults in Ireland
- Authors:
- GIBNEY Sarah, WARD Mark, SHANNON Sinead
- Journal article citation:
- Quality in Ageing and Older Adults, 19(3), 2018, pp.191-204.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Purpose: Housing quality across the life course is an important health determinant. The purpose of this paper is to profile the current housing conditions of older adults in Ireland, and to investigate the association between housing conditions and heating problems and two types of non-communicable diseases: respiratory health problems and bone and joint conditions. Design/methodology/approach: Data are from the Healthy and Positive Ageing Initiative Age-friendly Cities and Counties Survey, a random-sample, population representative survey of 10,540 adults aged 55 and older collected in 2015–2016. Mixed-effects logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the association between poor housing (leaks, rot and damp) and poor heating (unable to keep the home adequately warm) and the likelihood of having a respiratory health problem or a bone or joint condition. Results are reported as odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals. Findings: Overall, 10.2 per cent had poor housing and 10.4 per cent had poor heating. Poor housing and poor heating were strongly associated with respiratory health problems and there was a strong association between poor housing and bone and joint conditions. These associations were not explained by health behaviours or socio-demographic characteristics. Originality/value: Despite a number of publicly funded schemes available to assist in upgrading and maintaining housing, a considerable number of adults aged 55 years and older continue to report problems which are associated with an increased likelihood of respiratory health problem and bone and joint conditions and present a considerable threat to healthy ageing in place.
Socio-economic position and subjective health and well-being among older people in Europe: a systematic narrative review
- Authors:
- READ Sanna, GRUNDY Emily, FOVERSKOV Else
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 20(5), 2016, pp.529-542.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Objectives: Previous studies of older European populations have established that disability and morbidity vary with indicators of socio-economic position (SEP). The authors undertook a systematic narrative review of the literature to ascertain to what extent there is evidence of similar inequalities in the subjective health and well-being of older people in Europe. Method: Relevant original research articles were searched for using Medline, Global Health, Embase, Social Policy and Practice, Cinahl, Web of Science and International Bibliography of the Social Sciences (IBSS). The authors included studies of SEP and indicators of subjective health and well-being (self-rated health; life satisfaction; quality of life) conducted since 1991 using population-based samples of older people in Europe and published 1995–2013. Results: A total of 71 studies were identified. Poorer SEP was associated with poorer subjective health and well-being. Associations varied somewhat depending on the SEP measure and subjective health and well-being outcome used. Associations were weaker when social support and health-related behaviours were adjusted for suggesting that these factors mediate the relationship between SEP and subjective health and well-being. Associations tended to be weaker in the oldest age groups. The patterns of associations by gender were not consistent and tended to diminish after adjusting for indicators of health and life circumstances. Conclusion: The results of this systematic narrative review of the literature demonstrate the importance of social influences on later life subjective health and well-being and indicate areas which need further investigation, such as more studies from Eastern Europe, more longitudinal studies and more research on the role of mediating factors. (Edited publisher abstract)
Socioeconomic inequalities in self-rated health among middle-aged and older adults
- Author:
- KIM Jinhyun
- Journal article citation:
- Social Work in Health Care, 50(2), February 2011, pp.124-142.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
A key factor which contributes to health disparities is socioeconomic background. The accumulation of socioeconomic inequalities over time places some individuals at greater risk of poor health during their later years. Despite this, few studies to date have investigated the impact of socioeconomic inequalities on self-rated health over time. This study, using data from 6,519 individuals from the Health and Retirement Study examined socioeconomic inequalities specifically in self-rated health among middle-aged and older adults in the United States. Analysis revealed that higher level of income, assets, education, and having private health insurance predicted better self-rated health. In particular, increases in income or assets predicted slower decline in self-rated health. Economic status had greater impact on females' decline in self-rated health than men, and blacks were less likely to suffer rapid decline in self-rated health than whites. In conclusion, the authors suggest that health disparities should be understood as the interplay of socioeconomic status, gender, and race.
The state of ageing in 2020
- Author:
- CENTRE FOR AGEING BETTER
- Publisher:
- Centre for Ageing Better
- Publication year:
- 2020
- Place of publication:
- London
Through analysing nationally-available data, this report shows how people across England are ageing. It considers the state of health, finances and communities when COVID-19 hit and the impact it has had so far. The report warns that poor health, unsafe and low-quality housing, and a lack of social connections have exacerbated the impact of the pandemic particularly among the less well-off. Even before the pandemic, progress on improving life expectancy was stalling – and disability-free life expectancy was going backwards. The report also highlights a stark North-South divide in how people experience later life. It shows that people in the South of England have a longer life expectancy and spend more years in good health than those in the North. Key findings include: health – women in the wealthiest parts of the country are set to live 16 years longer in good health than those in the poorest; housing – more than two million people aged 55 or older are living in a home that endangers their health or wellbeing; work – in the year that the state pension age reaches 66, less than half of men and a third of women are still in work at 65; communities – lockdown has seen a surge in community activity – but in many cases the people who are struggling to get by are missing out. The report calls for urgent action by national and local governments, businesses and the voluntary sector to address the gap in disability-free life expectancy and to enable all of us to live longer healthier lives. This will require actions across society – to workplaces, homes and communities if we are to put people on a path to a happy and secure later life. (Edited publisher abstract)
The impact of COVID-19 to date on older people’s mental and physical health
- Author:
- AGE UK
- Publisher:
- Age UK
- Publication year:
- 2020
- Pagination:
- 20
- Place of publication:
- London
This briefing presents findings of a study on the impact of the pandemic on older people’s physical and mental health. It is based on 569 responses to a survey – 369 respondents were older people themselves and 200 answered on behalf of an older person; and representative online polling of 1,364 people over the age of 60 – of these nearly half were over the age of 70 and 40% were already living with a long-term condition before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The briefing focuses on the impact of the pandemic on physical health; diet and nutrition; cognitive decline; people affected by dementia; long term conditions and shielding; mental health and wellbeing; self-neglect; bereavement; loneliness; and health inequalities. While some older people have used the last few months as an opportunity to do more exercise and improve their fitness, this study suggests that many have seen their health deteriorate in the face of isolation and reduced opportunities to socialise and be physically active – sometimes drastically so. The pandemic has taken its toll on older people’s mental health. Older people with pre-existing mental health conditions have seen an increase in the severity of their symptoms, while others are struggling for the first time. Clubs, activities, and volunteering, which older people previously were involved with have been put on hold, while friends and family have needed to stay away, leaving many older people feeling lonely and isolated. Critically, older people from more disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds have been more severely affected, both mentally and physically. (Edited publisher abstract)
Ageing, health inequalities and the welfare state: a multilevel analysis
- Authors:
- HOGBERT Bjorn, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of European Social Policy, 28(4), 2018, pp.311-325.
- Publisher:
- Sage
Comparative studies of health inequalities have largely neglected age and ageing aspects, while ageing research has often paid little attention to questions of social inequalities. This article investigates cross-country differences in gradients in self-rated health and limiting long-standing illness (LLSI) in middle-aged and in older people (aged 50–64 and 65–80 years) linked to social class, and degrees to which the social health gradients are associated with minimum pension levels and expenditure on elderly care. For these purposes, data from the European Social Survey (2002–2010) are analysed using multilevel regression techniques. The authors find significant cross-level interaction effects between class and welfare policies: higher expenditure on elderly care and particularly more generous minimum pensions are associated with smaller health inequalities in the older age group (65–80 years). It is concluded that welfare policies moderate the association between social class and health, highlighting the importance of welfare state efforts for older persons, who are strongly reliant on the welfare state and welfare state arrangements such as pensions and care policies. (Edited publisher abstract)