ABSTRACT
What illnesses and conditions typically affect older persons?• How are the elements of diversity related to physical health and men-• tal health? What are the leading causes of death for older persons across different • racial/ethnic groups? How does longevity differ by gender, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status?•
Health inequalities refer to the difference in the rate of morbidity (illness) and mortality between different social groups in the United States. Often this difference mirrors societal inequities experienced by people from ethnic minority groups and those from lower socioeconomic groups; members of these populations often have higher rates of morbidity and mortality than their counterparts who are White or are from higher socioeconomic groups. Health inequalities are also often referred to as health disparities.
