How does poverty among the aged impact health?

Answer 1

As an Audiologist, I have many patients who have hearing loss, but can not afford to get the help they need. They will give me a running list of their expenses: medications, eyeglasses, dental problems and hearing loss - all of which are not covered by Medicare. Many of these people are on limited monthly incomes, and truthfully have to pick and choose what to pay for.

So as a person encounters more health problems with the aging process, their income and insurance coverage decline. They are not able to pay for the care and treatment they need, so many conditions progress more rapidly than they might otherwise.

Then consider the impact that this situation has on their mental health! They can't afford their medical services and drugs, they can't see, hear or eat as well as they used to, and they become depressed. Depression is believed to be linked to dementia and Alzheimer's disease. And it is definitely linked to declining health.

Answer 2

If you are poor then many times you have to make a choice of seeing a doctor or eating, buying Rx medication or eating, seeing a dentist or eating and paying bills. So, I would think that overall health would suffer. Along with the rise in stress levels due to the current circumstances. So overall the health would suffer a great deal. God bless

Answer 3

It is a double edged sword for the elderly. They do often need to make choices when those available are no good. Do they get their prescriptions filled, keep the heat on or buy nutritious food.
All of those choices impact health. They often put off seeing a doctor or having recommended tests done.
Isn't is sad to be old and poor in the US, often shameful too.

Answer 4

As you age you have more physical problems. If you don't have the money for medical care you suffer. Also, I know from working in a pharmacy years ago that some elderly people were having to spend almost their entire social security check on life sustaining medications. They had to choose between their medications that kept them alive and food. It's really sad.

Answer 5

Well, it's probably worse than being young. At least when you're young, people watch out for you and there are public services to help.

Older people may not want to feel like a burden, so they keep their health and money problems to themselves. Poor people can't take the pills they need, don't see the doctor as often, and can't afford medical care when they need it. So clearly, health deteriorates much faster for older people who are poor.

Answer 6

Lack of proper food, substandard housing, & the lack of proper medical care & medicine. This pretty much sums it up. Oh! add isolation. Pretty dismal life. Poor souls.

Answer 7

It shortens their lives.

Answer 8

can you afford a doctor?