As it is for you, so it is for those in your care.
As the graphic below from the Canadian Medical Association shows, factors such as income, race, disability, education, early childhood development, nutritious food, and housing contribute to 50% of our health status.
These factors are referred to as the social determinants of health, and together they contribute as much as all the other factors — such as healthcare services, biology, and the environment — combined.
Naheed and Birgit mentioned that they saw people who were poor, racialized, or affected by housing insecurity being disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Lily spoke about systemic barriers, such as lack of paid sick leave and access to vaccines, which created further vulnerability for those who were most impacted by the pandemic.