Social work and Human Services (Essay Sample)

Social work and Human Services Student name Institution Course Professor Date Social work and Human Services The United States is ranked ninth in the global list of countries according to the Global AgeWatch Index (2015) report, with an average value of 79.3 for each domain. In the four domains of income, health, capability, and enabling environment, the U.S. success in its high Index rank is due to its government policies and programs, such as Social Security, that support older people’s independence, capabilities, and quality of life. Moreover, nearly all Americans over 65 have public health insurance, improving access to high-quality healthcare(Global AgeWatch Index report, 2015). However, the report notes health disparities and other inequalities. Inequality in American healthcare systems has led to persistent racial inequities in health coverage. In addition, other inequalities exist in the U.S. Labor market age, income level, and education. For example, men who are 55 to 64 are more economically active than women of the same age(Global AgeWatch Index report, 2015). What constitutes other countries’ higher index ranking than the U.S is their long history of universal social security and comprehensive pension coverage than the U.S. They also have an economically active senior population, affordable quality healthcare, and strong social support networks. Generally, these nations have more robust policies and initiatives to safeguard and promote human right...