Aging, Health and Equity

“People are growing older and experiencing a much longer life span than that of prior generations. Many people over the age of 60 are healthier today and living in place within their home-based communities with noninstitutionalized care…To date, there has been precious little attention to how we discuss and frame aging through a public health lens.”

-- Elaine Jurkowski and Aaron Guest, "Healthy Aging Through the Social Determinants of Health," APHA Press, 2021

In 2034, the United States will have more adults age 65 and older than children. Historical gains in life expectancy are thanks in part to advances in medicine and public health and improvements in many social determinants of health. But these benefits have not been evenly distributed. Deeply rooted health inequities exist among subpopulations of older adults.

In particular, Black, Hispanic and American Indian/Alaska Native people have shorter life expectancies and poorer health status, as do other demographic groups, including populations with lower educational attainment and those who have experienced poverty.

What can we do?

1. Address ageism. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the impacts of ageism in health care, public health, long-term care services and supports, employment and housing have contributed to high death and illness rates among older adults.
2. Follow recommendations included in such guidance as the World Health Organization's healthy aging framework, the National Academy of Medicine's Vital Directions for Health and Health Care 2021 series and guidance from the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force and The Community Preventive Services Task Force.
3. Acknowledge ableism and its impact on an aging population. Two in five older adults live with a disability.
4. Pay attention to the intersection of racism and ableism.

APHA Resources

Healthy Aging Through the Social Determinants of Health (APHA Press)

Aging and Public Health Section

For media interviews with experts on this topic, contact APHA Media Relations. To connect with APHA members working in the field of aging and health equity, contact the APHA Aging and Public Health Section chair.

APHA Policy Statements (find more in the APHA Policy Statement Database)

• Building Environments and a Public Health Workforce to Support Physical Activity Among Older Adults
• Improving Health and Wellness through Access to Nature
• Strengthening the Dementia Care Workforce: A Public Health Priority
• Supporting and Sustaining the Home Care Workforce to Meet the Growing Need for Long-Term Care
• Supporting Public Health's Role in Addressing Unmet Needs in Serious Illness and at the End of Life

Additional Frameworks for Public Health Action

Actualizing Better Health and Health Care for Older Adults (National Academy of Medicine)

Age-Friendly Ecosystems: global movement to advance how community systems enable older adults to thrive. Within the U.S., these networks include:

• AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities
• Age-Friendly Health Systems (Institute for Healthcare Improvement)
• Age-Friendly Public Health Systems (Trust for America's Health)
• Age-Friendly Universities (Academy for Gerontology in Higher Education)

Aging (National Academy of Medicine)

World Health Organization

• Disability and Health
• International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health
• Decade of Healthy Ageing: Baseline Report, 2021

More Resources

Government resources

Healthy Aging, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Aging, National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Aging

Minority aging, Resource Centers for Minority Aging Research, National Institutes on Aging

Administration for Community Living 

Other professional organizations and societies

American Geriatrics Society

American Society on Aging

Gerontological Society of America

National Council for Aging Care