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Healthy Ageing and Health Equity: Broader Determinants of Health with a Spotlight on Climate Change

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Prevention of Chronic Diseases and Age-Related Disability

Part of the book series: Practical Issues in Geriatrics ((PIG))

Abstract

We briefly consider theories that should contribute to a model of healthy ageing, incorporating important structural and intermediate causes of inequalities and inequities. We then use a modified version of the WHO Commission on Social Determinants of Health framework to take account of factors that are particularly relevant and explain differences in the level and distribution of healthy ageing—at early and later stages of life. We also identify entry points on what can be done to support people to function well into older ages, irrespective of disease or morbidity status. The importance of climate change on the health of older adults is briefly outlined, with a call for in-depth investigation to inform policy and identify actions.

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Acknowledgments

This chapter draws on a background paper [4] prepared for the WHO World Report on Ageing and Health and adds new material on climate change reflecting a WHO Global public consultation on research priorities for healthy ageing, supported by The Velux Stiftung.

Disclaimer: RS and TK are staff members of the World Health Organization. All listed authors alone are responsible for the views expressed in this publication and they do not necessarily represent the decisions, policy or views of the World Health Organization.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ageing and Life Course, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland

    Ritu Sadana & Ana Posarac

  2. Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Suman Budhwani

  3. International Public Health and Development, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Erik Blas

  4. Gender, Equity and Human Rights Team, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland

    Theadora Koller

  5. Escuela de Negocios Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, Santiago, Chile

    Guillermo Paraje

Authors
  1. Ritu Sadana
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  2. Suman Budhwani
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  3. Erik Blas
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  4. Ana Posarac
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  5. Theadora Koller
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  6. Guillermo Paraje
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ritu Sadana .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Geneva University, Geneva, Switzerland

    Jean-Pierre Michel

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Sadana, R., Budhwani, S., Blas, E., Posarac, A., Koller, T., Paraje, G. (2019). Healthy Ageing and Health Equity: Broader Determinants of Health with a Spotlight on Climate Change. In: Michel, JP. (eds) Prevention of Chronic Diseases and Age-Related Disability. Practical Issues in Geriatrics. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-96529-1_18

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-96529-1_18

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  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-96529-1

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