Health Inequalities and Active Aging: What Can Social Workers Do?

Abstract

The ongoing Eurozone crisis brought Spain harsh austerity measures of higher tax and cuts in medical care and social services. The growing economic hardship may lead to greater economic inequality. Income inequality, in turn, could cause inequitable health differences in population, called “health inequalities.” All of the events pose great challenges and risk to older adults, and threatens their efforts toward achieving healthy and active aging in Spain. This paper provides an overview of health inequalities in Spain and active aging, and discusses the potential roles of social workers in reducing health inequalities while promoting active aging for older adults in Spain. Continued efforts for active aging could prevent health inequalities from adversely affecting older adults during the difficult economic times. Social workers are perfectly positioned to help older adults to achieve the active aging. It concludes with a description of an intervention program in the United States that demonstrates the role of social workers in ensuring successful and active aging for vulnerable old adults.