Equity

Resource allocation has been a prominent issue in various disciplines, including economics, sociology, psychology, and health, with the question of fairness and justice often guiding the fair distribution of resource allocation. In this case, equity, based on a person’s merit (e.g., ability, effort, talent and productivity), is commonly used as the main allocation principle. Equity principle allocates resources based on personal characteristics (e.g., age, gender, geographical location, and socioeconomic status), needs and outcomes (e.g., healthy lives). In contrast, equality principle allocates the same amount of resources to each person regardless of personal characteristics.

“Health equity is achieved when everyone, regardless of sex, gender, income, race, or other socio-demographic characteristics, has the fair opportunities to reach their optimal health” (Canadian Institute for Health Information, 2024).

Through its commitment to sustainable development goals, the global world recognizes the importance of healthy lives and well-being for all age groups, including older populations. The physical, psychological and social processes of aging entail increasing risk exposures to poor health and well-being. Age is one of the most important health determinants, and older persons are prone to experiencing inequities in accessing appropriate and quality care. With the likelihood of older persons experiencing complex health issues, healthcare professionals must understand the impact of aging and the influence of social locations on older persons’ experiences to provide quality care, reduce health disparities and improve the health outcomes of older persons.

To improve health and quality of life for older adults, healthcare practitioners must look beyond the biomedical model and address social and structural determinants of health that drive inequities. Factors like race, gender, location, education, and income affect older adults’ ability to navigate and negotiate the resources needed for full societal participation and well-being. The physical environment also plays a key role. Proximity to healthcare, availability of transportation, safe sidewalks, recreational spaces, and exposure to noise or light pollution can significantly impact health. Additionally, a lack of positive social support increases the risk of abuse, neglect, and isolation. Social and physical environments shape behaviors like healthy eating and physical activity, making them critical areas of focus for healthcare interventions aimed at older adults.

We also should look further into structural barriers that influence inequities experienced by older persons. Policies and governance can either hinder or improve older person’s integration into the economy and society through their effect on social and environmental barriers. Furthermore, ideologies influence people’s stand on various issues, including inequities. For example, neoliberalism, which emphasizes capitalism, privatization, and individualism, might hinder older adults’ access to healthcare services in areas without publicly funded healthcare systems. Individualist view puts the responsibility to maintain health and well-being on the person, which puts underserved populations, such as older people, at a disadvantage.

The video on activity 2 highlighted the significance of race/ethnicity as one of the social categories in older adults’ experiences. Next, we will explore how the intersection of social categories can influence a person’s experiences in different ways.