Essay On Social Determinants On Health

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The elderly is looked upon as the slowing generation, in terms of their deteriorating personal physical and mental health which restricts them from performing everyday life tasks before heading into retirement. With an estimated 20% of New Zealand’s population will be aged 65 years plus by 2026. There is also a huge part that society plays, which also affects them. These are known as social determinants. The social determinants of health are factors that influence the environment people are born into, live, work and age. This essay will be discussing three of these social determinants, income, housing and stress on the elderly population in New Zealand. More so, how these determinants impact on health inequalities, which are the differences …show more content…

Especially, people who prioritise their bill payments over their own health as it is extra cost for the medical services. Unlike others on a higher income they have more control over and accessibility to services that will benefit their own health. Also, income induces the affordability one can afford to rent or own their own property in order to have a roof over their head. This other health inequality of low income means poor housing which lack insulation, resulting in the deterioration of the tenant’s physical health due to moulding from the moisten, cold environment. On the other hand, home ownership enables others to make the necessary upgrades in order to improve fixtures round their home. This means an absence of moulding with the insulation provided which will benefit their physical health and less likely to fall ill. Both these social determinants of income and housing together result in the final health inequalities of stress. The stress of having no sense of control over your own life is no doubt a depressing thought for anyone. Especially, for people actually going through life in these circumstances it is most definitely not a life of justice. Although, the government have put in place a Health Strategy for the elderly population it is only a matter of time until there is fairness the elderly population in New

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