As society ages, the ability to ensure that increased longevity is a premium rather than a curse is vital.  A significant part of this will be how effective society is at managing the inevitable health issues that arise as we age.  A recent study from King’s College London highlights the role poverty plays in our ability to receive the kind of care we need in old age, and especially in the final months of our life.

Lower socioeconomic position (SEP) is well known as a factor in lower life expectancy and the earlier onset of a wide range of diseases.  The King’s researchers wanted to test whether it also has an impact on the last year of our life, and the role things like our income, occupation, education and housing quality play in the care we receive in our final year.

They analyzed over 200 studies together with data on nearly 150 health outcomes from countries across Europe, North America, Asia and Australia.

End of life care

The analysis revealed that people living in the most deprived neighborhoods were significantly more likely to die in a hospital than people living in the least deprived neighborhoods.  What’s more, they were also much more likely to receive acute, hospital-based care in the final months of their life, with a lower likelihood of receiving any kind of specialist palliative care, which is vital in reducing symptoms and generally improving our wellbeing.

“These findings should stimulate widespread efforts to reduce socioeconomic inequality towards the end of life,” the authors conclude. “We recommend that all research on care received towards the end of life should attempt to account for SEP; end of life care interventions should be analyzed for their different effects across the social strata; and the planning and provision of end of life care services should consider SEP in local populations.”

A longer life can be both a wonderful boon or a terrible burden, and this study reminds us that for poorer people, a longer life can be anything but enjoyable.  For society to enjoy a longevity premium, it’s vital that issues such as these are addressed properly.  Time will tell whether they actually are or not.