New poll shows… at least we’ve got our health!
Justin Cohen is the News Editor at the Jewish News
British Jews enjoy better health than almost any other religious or ethnic group in the country, according to a new report that lifts the lid on illness and disability in the community, writes Justin Cohen.
The Institute for Jewish Policy Research report draws on recently-released data from the 2011 Census to also reveal that 5,600 Jews are economically inactive because of long-term illness and around 2,000 children suffer from a limiting condition.
But it also reveals that older Jews are among the least likely to report their health as ‘bad’ or ‘very bad’ – with 19 percent of respondents over the age of 75 claiming this. This is exactly the same percentage as among Christians but significantly lower than among Hindus (27 percent), Sikhs (33 percent) and Muslims (42 percent) – the religious group that reported the worst health among pensioners.
Across the age spectrum, however, Christians are most likely to self-report being generally unwell while Jews [one in 20] are about average when compared with other religious and ethnic groups. “Overall, compared to other groups, Jews have better general health than most ‘white ethnics’ and Muslims, but not as good as Asian or black groups,” said the study’s David Graham.
“However, since age is such an important predictor of health and Jews are, on average, older than most other groups, we find that, once this age factor is taken into account, Jews are actually one of the healthiest groups of all.”
The report claims the reason Jewish adults exhibit better general health “is related to higher than average standards of living but also to lifestyle – they are less likely to smoke or drink alcohol than the general population”.
Being divorced or separated is also bad for one’s health, according to the report.
Eleven percent of respondents who state that they are single say they are in poor health compared to five percent of those with a Continued from page 1 partner. But those with a partner are in turn twice as likely to be ill than among singles.
Community members in lower socio-economic brackets are five times more likely to report poor health than their counterparts in higher socio-economic brackets, according to the figures.
Meanwhile, around 17 percent of UK Jews experience a chronic condition or disability which significantly limits their daily activities, with nearly half of the 22,076 limited ‘a lot’ aged under 75. In 2011, some 5,600 Jews aged 16 and above said they were ‘not working’ as a result of being long-term sick or disabled –19 percent fewer than in 2001.
The study also shines a fascinating light on the number of Jewish people who are being cared for at home or in care homes across the country.
About 27,400 Jews [one in 10] are unpaid carers to family members and friends, while more than 3,500 community members are living in medical or care facilities. In a sign that care is often provided at home, just nine percent of community members aged 75 live in care facilities.
Jewish Policy Research executive director Dr Jonathan Boyd [who analyses the figures below], said the study, along with other available data from the 2011 Census, “can help provide us with a mine of information which can be of enormous benefit to all Jewish charities working in this sector”.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
