A review of 42 existing studies on gerontology and public health pointed out priorities and challenges to promote care for adults as they age.
The report, published Wednesday in Cureus, identified two main issues as they relate to gerontology and public health. The first is that aging adults experience more chronic conditions and comorbidities that lead to higher healthcare utilization and costs. The second issue involves overcoming the public’s negative attitudes and lack of knowledge about aging and health.
The World Health Organization estimates that the number of people worldwide aged 60 years and older will double from 900 million in 2015 to 2 billion by 2050, the authors pointed out, highlighting the importance of addressing these issues.
Public health interventions for older adults have evolved during the past decade due to advancements in preventive health, chronic disease management, health promotion initiatives (like promotion of exercise, social support and caregiving programs) and the use of technology by way of wearables and telehealth.
However, challenges affecting public health with regard to gerontology persist, including limits on diversity in clinical trials and studies, as well as a lack of long-term data about the health outcomes of older adults — information that could be used to provide necessary public health support.
Aging adults also lack sufficient mental health resources and access to those that do exist. Fragmented care systems and difficulty with access to healthcare programs are two more obstacles affecting older adults.
The authors noted that environmental and community factors — like safe housing and aging-friendly community design — play a role in the health and well-being of older adults. Technology to support healthy aging is available, but older adults in many places have a hard time accessing it.
“The gerontology and public health literature gaps highlight the need for a more inclusive, comprehensive, and interdisciplinary approach to research and practice. Addressing these gaps will require concerted efforts to include diverse populations, integrate mental health with physical health, overcome economic and systemic barriers, utilize technology effectively, and develop supportive policies and environments,” the authors wrote.
