Abstract
Built environments for healthy aging
Aaron Guest, PHD, MPH, MSW, CPH, CSW
Arizona State University, Phoeniz, AZ
APHA 2021 Annual Meeting and Expo
Health starts in our homes, schools, workplaces, neighborhoods, and communities. Neighborhoods and the built environment are important components of social determinants of health and contributes to overall health outcomes. The context people grow up and age in, strongly influence health and quality of life outcomes. This concept of environment entails access to social and economic opportunities, resources to support our homes, neighborhoods and schools, and our social interactions among other factors. Environmental factors and the development of age-friendly communities and practices based on the concepts of universal design.
Environmental health sciences
Abstract
The intersection of end of life and grief
Rachael Nolan, PhD
University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH
APHA 2021 Annual Meeting and Expo
Grief is recognized as a powerful, sometimes pathogenic, event that can be experienced throughout the course of a lifetime; particularly as we age and near end-of-life. Associated with 8 out of 10 leading causes of death and disability, grief serves as a central risk factor for obesity, sleep deprivation, autoimmune disease, as well as unintentional/intentional injury. Population science calls upon the fields of public health to not only improve quality of life for all grieving persons, but also to create sustainable, long-term solutions to improve the health and well-being of people as they age. Traditionally, the public health response to grief has been one of clinical specialization consisting of therapists, psychiatrists, and the like. However, with the advent of new technology, increased efforts to assist the grieving such as death-centric apps, online grief sharing platforms, legacy services, and augmented eternity programs are reshaping when and where we grieve.
Public health or related education
Abstract
Caregiving
Andrea Medeiros, MPH, CHES1 and Talha Ali, PhD2
(1)National Osteoporosis Foundation, Alexandria, VA, (2)Yale University, New Haven, CT
APHA 2021 Annual Meeting and Expo
Caregiving is an important need in the lives of people advancing in age. Most countries are experiencing population aging with longer life expectancies accompanied by increasing prevalence of chronic conditions. This makes the demand and cost of caregiving in both formal and informal sectors both urgent and arduous. The increasing need for caregivers as a result of population aging will create new opportunities in caregiving employment and an increase in various specializations related to caregiving. Professional practitioners will need to learn about diverse populations and their respective needs as we work on addressing caregiving challenges.
Public health or related organizational policy, standards, or other guidelines
Abstract
Economic issues in healthy aging
Lisa Lines, PhD, MPH1 and Jennifer Pooler, MPP2
(1)Los Angeles, CA, (2)IMPAQ International, Columbia, MD
APHA 2021 Annual Meeting and Expo
Poverty is a significant risk factor for poorer health outcomes, and more older Americans live in poverty than the official statistics suggest. From a public health perspective, lack of adequate income is correlated with other factors, such as lacking healthy food, adequate or safe housing, or reliable transportation; these challenges further contribute to poor health outcomes. Additionally, ongoing national policy concerns such as financing public insurance programs, long-term care, and social services remain unresolved, further impeding our ability to meet the needs of the rapidly aging US population. Balancing overall healthcare spending and access to high-quality, timely, and coordinated care is a major challenge for addressing the healthcare needs of older adults. These economic issues and the risks of financial exploitation in later life require solution-based awareness to protect the health and wealth of older Americans.
Public health or related research
Abstract
Policies and impact for healthy aging
Elaine Jurkowski, PhD, MSW
Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Carbondale, IL
APHA 2021 Annual Meeting and Expo
Policies are relevant area to public health. We examine the passage of major policies and programs affecting people’s health as they grow older in the United States, and the ways in which those policies have evolved over time. A key concern is the level of available funding for programs, and the need to respond to rapid changes in health care situations, which have intense impact on the public health workforce. This impact is projected to increase as the nation continues to age. Older adults and their caregivers are some of the most vulnerable populations in need of support and advocacy.
Public health or related public policy