PHOENIX — There are three key factors to life expectancy in the Valley. It’s location, location, location.
That’s according to the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, which says there is a 14-year difference in life expectancy between people living south of Phoenix and those living north Scottsdale.
To help close this gap, the board agreed Thursday to spend $1 million in community solutions funding.
Addressing the large life expectancy disparity between the Valley’s two regions.
The board is working with Arizona State University on a five-year health and wellness initiative called the Community Wellbeing Hub.
This new funding will help develop and implement the research hub.
Supervisor Steve Gallardo, who represents South Phoenix, said he is passionate about improving the community.
“It’s a simple fact that where you live, down to your zip code, can affect your quality of life. But let’s be honest, people in my district and people in other parts of town When I heard how large the difference in life expectancy was between the two countries, I knew I had to do something,” Gallardo said in a news release.
ASU’s College of Health Solutions and the Equality Health Foundation are already working on data collection.
The city held six community meetings to gather resident feedback on why the disparity in life expectancy exists between the two regions. This process involved over 800 stakeholders.
“As someone who has represented this area for over 20 years, I know there are many reasons why south Phoenix residents don’t live as long on average, and economic disparity is certainly one of them,” Gallardo said. said.
ASU is currently focused on developing plans to address social and health impacts by analyzing programs aimed at improving population well-being, quality of life, and health outcomes.
The researchers also took into account the economic vitality of each community.
“What we really want to do with this work is focus on what interventions can be put in place to close the gap in life expectancy and, most importantly, improve people’s quality of life.” said Gallardo.
