Old-Age Health Inequality as Seen from a Lifecycle Perspective and Strategies for Ensuring Later-Life Health

Abstract

This research originated from an awareness of the issue that, despite heightened societal interest in elevating the absolute standards of health and promoting health enhancement, health disparities among the elderly are worsening. To facilitate a thorough discussion on health inequality in later life, the study concentrated on elucidating a multi-dimensional comprehension of their health and identifying diverse social inequality factors that shape the living conditions of older adults in our country, along with the mechanisms inducing disparities in current health status.

Drawing from the findings, the study articulated strategic directions for policies that need to be intensified for the elderly at this juncture, and for policies that should consistently be a focus, taking into account the demographic aging from a life-course perspective. The study calls for persistent policy engagement, recognizing that health inequities in old age can have enduring impacts, not only on the seniors themselves but also on their prospective caregivers and the broader society.