Place of residence influences health outcomes in later life by affecting access to healthcare, living conditions and exposure to disease. Health inequalities among older adults therefore reflect not only individual socio-economic circumstances but also the environments in which people live.

Where You Live Shapes Health Inequality in Later Life

Using nationally representative data from the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI 2017–18), the authors examined how disease burden varied across socio-economic and geographic groups. They found that differences in place of residence were associated with variations in disease prevalence and healthcare access, even after considering other socio-economic characteristics. These findings led the authors to conclude that geography is an important contributor to health inequality among older adults.

Policies that focus only on individual characteristics risk overlooking the influence of local healthcare systems and living environments. Improving health equity requires investments that strengthen healthcare access and public health infrastructure while also addressing the broader social and economic factors that shape where people live.