Healthcare Disparities and Older Women

Healthcare disparities in the United States have increasing become a concern in relation to healthcare outcomes, as well as to social justice issues. These disparities are reflected in statistical differences in healthcare outcomes for different population groups. In addition more recognition is being given to the role of factors influencing health in general. Older women are a subset of those experiencing disparities in access and differential care and many of the disparities are outcomes of the socio-cultural aspects of health. Two areas of inquiry regarding older women and their healthcare (1) are the differences between men and women, generally and more specifically older men and older women and (2) differences in healthcare between younger and older women. This discussion has implications for the practice of medicine, especially in the field of gerontology, as well as for social workers who advocate for individual clients as well as for programmatic and policy changes. This chapter will discuss some of these issues.