Why are middle class older people so much more healthier than their poorer counterparts?

[Gorzf]

Sorry, if this is obvious to people but I can't help but notice all the well off people I meet in their 50s/ 60s / 70s, they're just healthy, their skin is glowing, they're fit and mobile.

I am a child of immigrants who came with nothing. We were quite poor growing up, the only kid in my friendship group on free school meals. Even as an adult I'm not particularly well off, just getting by. Growing up, most older people in my poor area / community just declined. It was almost a thing I thought was just normal, that's what happens.

It wasn't as I grew older and started meeting people from different socioeconomic status that I realised that wasn't the case.

It can't just be about having more money, surely. What is it that they're doing that the poor folk around me didn't do.

I think when people are skint, when they do have some spare money, they often tend to do things which are visible. So rather than pay for a much needed filling, they will pay for lashes or expensive trainers.

@mistyfen I'm not disagreeing, it's shocking. I'm on benefits myself, so very aware that people can't immediately go privately. My point was that this child had been in pain for nearly a year, I couldn't have spent a penny on myself in those circs whilst saying it wasn't my responsibility.

That's daft when it's teeth. That has to last you your whole life. Bit like the rest of your body. You can live to 80 plus but if 30 years of that are in poor health, then quite hellish.

I reckon in a few years there will be clear scientific link between poor diet and dementia which is on being hinted at now.

Bodies are for the long term.

Also the woman is neglecting her kid. Bloody hell some people

Sorry @feralunderclass and I do agree about leaving a child in pain.
Even if money for private treatment couldn't be acquired the pain would have needed to be addressed immediately - and I'd be trying to access emergency appointments or ringing around the country (as Mumsnetters are currently doing on one thread).

Yes, snobbery and judgment don’t just flow one way!

Snobbery absolutely does just flow one way.

Judgement, well we all do that.