Key to longevity based on social factors, study says

Improving health care in the UK has benefitted those who are well off, a study says, pointing out that social factors are key to longevity of life. Studies like these are of benefit when considering how disability impacts our lives.

There is a very real stress level I've encountered in my work as a professional that affects people living with poverty . It results from the level of uncertainty poverty engenders as to housing, education or job training, the ability to feed oneself and one's children - all basic security needs.

"A more effective way of increasing life expectancy and improving health would be for every government policy and programme to be assessed for its impact on health and health equity; to make health and health equity a marker for government performance."

"People need the opportunity, the possibility, to take control of their lives - but the conditions need to be right to allow them to do that."

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The report highlights education, affordable housing, management of access to unhealthy foods and social security protection as key.

It also said that governments should take action to ensure a living wage for workers, and working conditions that reduce work-related stress and ensure a healthy work-life balance.

via news.bbc.co.uk

According to the report, where you live has a big impact and a video shows the difference a few blocks make in Glasgow- where one child's life expectancy is 53 years of age and another's is 81.