Health inequalities in older populations in rural and coastal areas
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Zibiah Loakthar, our Cuimhne Coordinator writes,
Just in the last couple of weeks (August 2019), Public Health England has published some research into health inequalities in older populations in rural and coastal areas. They find that “how we age is strongly influenced by our environment, including where we live”. and claim, “Our new evidence review builds on the existing evidence and suggests that older people living in rural or coastal areas may experience specific inequalities in their physical and mental health”:
Woods
This document may be of interest to anyone interested in health inequalities and to community leaders and volunteers looking at how best to take action to reduce health inequalities. Social exclusion and isolation are identified as key drivers of health inequalities in rural and coastal areas. Rural and coastal areas may face infrastructure challenges, with villages and small towns sometimes lacking frequent and reliable public transport and high–speed internet.
However, this need not be the case. The Office for National Statistics figures indicate that a higher proportion of people living in rural areas feel a sense of belonging and safety in their neighbourhood compared to people living in urban areas. Public Health England observe how coastal environments may provide benefits, for instance through “the restorative and stress–reducing impact of blue space (water)”.
Irish groups working in coastal and rural areas have the potential to play a great role in reducing the risk of social exclusion and isolation. Loneliness and social exclusion are what community groups can be so good at creatively combatting. The evidence collected in this Public Health England report might be helpful in supporting fundraising bids of groups wishing to develop work in this field.
Click here to take a look.