Vulnerable populations such as the elderly, people with disabilities, and racial minorities have unique health care needs that include complex chronic conditions, multiple chronic comorbidities, dependency, and lack of access to healthcare (Vanderbilt et al., 2013). Complex chronic conditions affecting people in these groups of the population require constant medications to enhance their wellbeing and longevity. However, vulnerable populations often struggle to pay for the medications and some are forced to cut back on prescribed medications to save money, resulting in increased risk for disease entrenchment and suboptimal treatment outcomes (Freedman & Spillman, 2014). The proposed bill seeks to structure Medicare in such a way that it can utilize its buying power to negotiate with pharmaceutical firms for lower prices and hence ensure continuous drug coverage for vulnerable populations.
Although the health care law adds benefits to assist in making the Medicare prescription drug coverage more affordable upon reaching the Medicare Part D coverage gap, vulnerable populations have often fallen into what is commonly referred to as the doughnut hole due to failure to pay all the costs of their medicine as required by the law (Danzon, 2004). Moreover, Gusmano and Allin (2011) proved that the current health care delivery systems in England and the US need improvement. Even though they tend to make healthcare services of good quality available to the diverse population, older persons and minorities have poor access to primary care in the US. The fact that access inequalities exist is underlined. It is claimed that even though the county tries to make forget about the racial differences, they are not ignored and affect the delivery of services negatively. Under the current law, the coverage is 75% of the initial drug cost, which seems to be rather beneficial, but when the sum reaches $2,830, individuals become responsible for all costs. Here the coverage gap occurs, as the next coverage will be received only when the sum is almost $6,500 (Traynor, 2010). Thus, the necessity of the donut hole solution is undeniable.
Unfortunately, today one-third of the beneficiaries fall into the donut hole , which proves that the issue is to be solved as soon as possible. With the help of Part D, many people who suffer from chronic diseases and need constant treatment will pay very modest sums (Howard-Ruben, 2006). Part D coverage benefits the vulnerable population, as it will increase every year so that eventually people will always pay 25% of the cost, everything else will be paid by insurance and other private companies (Information pharmacists can use, 2013). Those who are already on Medicare have an opportunity to change the program for Part B if they want, and others join it directly. The advantage of this coverage is that it has several drug plans that cover all services, and people can choose the one that will be the best for them depending on the drugs they need and their location. Moreover, some of them have mail order services so there is no necessity to go to the pharmacy. Many old people and representatives of minorities have limited income and resources so they can receive Extra Help. This program provides premiums and coinsurance and can be got automatically or applied. People can also get assistance with drug coverage decisions if they visit the office, send an email, or just call (Your guide to Medicare n.d.).
Thus, it can be seen that the vulnerable population needs support and assistance even including the representatives who are applying for Medicare and Medicaid. With the help of Medicare Part D, they all will gain an opportunity to avoid or at least get out of the coverage gap. This program will use the money provided by insurance and private companies so that the individuals will pay only a quarter of the drug costs while those with limited income will also gain Extra Help.
References
Danzon, P.M. (2004). Closing the doughnut hole: No easy answers. Health Affairs, 23(2), 405-408.
Freedman, V.A., & Spillman, B.C. (2014). Disability and care needs among older Americans. Milbank Quarterly, 92(3), 509-541.
Gusmano, M., & Allin, S. (2011). Health care for older persons in England and the United States: A contrast of systems and values. Journal of Health Politics, Policies & Law, 36(1), 89-118.
Howard-Ruben, J. (2006). Unexpected doughnut hole raises concerns that patients will fail to fill needed prescriptions. ONS News, 21(2), 10-11.
Information pharmacists can use on closing the coverage gap. (2013). Web.
Traynor, K. (2010). Health reform law offers relief in Medicare part D coverage gap. American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy, 67(13), 1049-1049.
Vanderbilt, A.A., Isringhausen, K.T., Vanderwielen, L.M., Wright, M.S., Slascheva, L.B., & Modden, M.A. (2013). Health disparities among highly vulnerable populations in the United States: A call to action for medical and oral health care. Medical Education Online, 18(1), 1-3.
Your guide to Medicare prescription drug coverage. (n.d.). Web.
As a matter of fact, Jim Crow, or the Jim Crow system, may be defined as a particular racial caste system that existed in the United States between the 1870s and the middle of the 1960s, predominantly in the countrys border and southern states. It was not just a series of anti-black laws that limited the civil rights of African American citizens it was a specific way of life. Under this system, Black people were regarded as second-class citizens culturally, morally, and intellectually inferior in comparison to Whites. In general, Jim Crow may be regarded as the era of anti-black racisms legitimization when politics, science, religion, mass media, and other social institutes supported and reflected the oppression of African Americans.
All regulations created within the Jim Crow system and aimed to segregate socially acceptable and honored Whites and seemingly inferior Blacks were based on violence and hate. Thus, in the present day, when tolerance and equal human rights are highly valued in all developed countries, any type of racial discrimination is supposed to be eliminated. In addition, the total absence of racial segregation was expected after the election of Barack Obama, the countrys first African American president. However, despite all these facts, racial discrimination may still be observed in almost all spheres of human activity. On the basis of peer-reviewed research, this paper aims to examine racial disparities related to the Black population in health care, employment, the criminal justice system, education, and society in general.
Health Care
Regardless of the fact that Jim Crow finished several decades ago with the passage of particular laws, unfair and unequal treatment of Black citizens may still be observed in various spheres of modern society. According to Yearby (2018), neither the first ruling of 1954 nor the Civil Rights Acts of 1957, 1960, 1964, 1968, and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 were able to prevent the existence of discrimination and structural racism in multiple areas, including health care. At the same time, limited access to health care facilities and the poor health status of African Americans are strongly connected with disparities in other spheres of life, especially employment, income, net worth, wealth, and homeownership (Yearby, 2018). Thus, the discriminatory practices ignored by the government that aims to deteriorate the economic well-being and housing of Blacks lead to unofficial racial segregation and the creation of predominantly African American neighborhoods. In turn, this segregation has a highly negative impact on peoples access to health care and health status in general.
First of all, the quality of food accessible in different neighborhoods substantially varies. The residents of Black communities do not have access to healthy food due to a lack of supermarkets and a preponderance of convenience stores and fast-food restaurants as the primary food outlets (Yearby, 2018, p. 1118). As a result, they become more vulnerable to obesity, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. In addition, due to insufficient investments in racially segregated neighborhoods, their residents have to receive low-quality health care in local hospitals or stay without any medical assistance at all. Therefore, according to multiple types of research, there are disproportionately high rates of disabilities, lung cancer mortality, mental health disorders, and other diseases among African Americans in comparison with the White population (Yearby, 2018). The shortage of health care providers and the reduction of hospital beds and other essential services in these communities may be traditionally observed as well.
Employment
In the sphere of employment, racial disparities are frequently covered. For instance, according to some evidence reviews, wage gaps are smaller or nonexistent for very high-skill workers and employment gaps are somewhat smaller among high-skill than among low-skill workers (Borowczyk-Martins et al., 2017, p. 106). However, Borowczyk-Martins et al. (2017) state that in the United States, an average Black employee has a lower salary and lower employment rate in comparison with his White counterpart. Moreover, inequities exist regardless of education, even if the percentage of prejudice in both cases varies. Therefore, when workers are without any college degree, almost 60% of potential employers have a prejudice against Black employees, while approximately 30% of employers are prejudiced when candidates have high education (Borowczyk-Martins et al., 2017). At the same time, Black and White employees may have different qualities of their skills, however, this difference is frequently determined by the discrimination of African Americans in education.
Criminal Justice System
Inequities on the basis of race and ethnicity still exist in the countrys criminal justice system as well. Thus, African Americans are arrested, convicted, and incarcerated at highly disproportionate rates in comparison with Whites. According to Tyler and Brockmann (2017), Black citizens are incarcerated at almost seven times White mens rate. In addition, similar to inequities and limitations in health care, the highest rates of incarceration among African Americans are connected with racial discrimination in other spheres. For instance, in 2014, median household income for Black families was $35,398, which was 41.3% less than the median white household income (Tyler & Brockmann. 2017, p. 548). Thus, African Americans more frequently live in poverty compared with White citizens and are more vulnerable to committing a crime due to economic needs.
As a result, Black are overrepresented in the countrys criminal justice system and traditionally face more severe penalties. Tyler and Brockmann (2017) state that 1 in 3 Black men is likely to spend time in prison in their lifetime, as compared to 1 in 17 white men (p. 549). According to the researchers findings, in twelve states across the country, Blacks constitute more than half of the total incarcerated population (Tyler & Brockmann. 2017). In general, although African Americans are only 13% of the United States general population, they constitute up to 40% of the prison population (Tyler & Brockmann. 2017). One more factor that contributes to this situation is deep racial prejudice and stereotypes against Blacks that still exist in modern society. For instance, they are supposed to be involved in the drug industry more than Whites, although there are no facts that may support this information.
Education
Discrimination in the education system is primarily represented by the division of students and the establishment of segregated classrooms on the basis of race rather than knowledge and skills. High-track classes are disproportionately represented by White students, while low-track classes are filled with Black ones (Franklin, 2016). In addition, despite officially common curriculum and standards, the information provided for young people in classes is different. In other words, White and Black people are prepared for different roles in society from school. Moreover, racialization contributes to the association of academic success, goal achievements, and development with whiteness. In addition, according to Franklin (2016), Black students frequently suffer from racial microaggressions in hostile campus racial climates. Nevertheless, such situations and related poor academic achievement of African Americans do not receive attention from university authorities.
Social Life
Previously mentioned microaggressions might be regarded as a highly disturbing issue of the Black population outside education facilities as well. According to the research conducted by Keith et al. (2017), skin tone and body weight are two phenotypic characteristics that influence the type and frequency of discrimination experienced by African Americans (p. 233). Thus, Black people with darker skin tones face discrimination, unfair treatment, and microaggressions more frequently in comparison with those with lighter skin tones (Keith et al., 2017). In addition, as obesity is stigmatized in American society as well, the combination of dark skin and excess body weight exposes particular individuals to an unprecedented level of hate. In general, discriminated people have fewer opportunities for socially desirable outcomes and socioeconomic achievements.
Conclusion
As a particular discriminatory caste system that supported anti-black racism, Jim Crow characterized American society in the first half of the 20th century. However, despite all achievements in the sphere of civil rights, tolerance, and human equality, discrimination on the basis of race still exists in almost all spheres of human activity in the United States of America. In general, discrimination in one sphere frequently determines inequities in others. Thus, disparities in education lead to disparities in employment and wages. In turn, lower employment rates and lower salaries for African Americans lead to inequities in homeownership, segregated neighborhoods, limited access to health care, and poverty. Finally, unemployment and poverty in combination with deep racial prejudice lead to Blacks massive incarceration. Thus, it is possible to conclude that Jim Crow has currently transformed into the New Jim Crow system.
References
Borowczyk-Martins, D., Bradley, J., & Tarasonis, L. (2017). Racial discrimination in the U.S. labor market: Employment and wage differentials by skill. Labour Economics, 49, 106-127. Web.
Franklin, J. (2016). Racial microaggressions, racial battle fatigue, and racism-related stress in higher education. Journal of Student Affairs at NYU, 44-55.
Keith, V. M., Nguyen, A. W., Taylor, R. J., Mouzon, D. M., & Chatters, L. M. (2017). Microaggressions, discrimination, and phenotype among African Americans: A latent class analysis of the impact of skin tone and BMI. Sociological Inquiry, 87(2), 233255. Web.
Tyler E. T., & Brockmann, B. (2017). Returning home: Incarceration, reentry, stigma and the perpetuation of racial and socioeconomic health inequity. The Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics, 45, 545-557. Web.
Yearby, R. (2018). Racial disparities in health status and access to healthcare: The continuation of inequality in the United States due to structural racism. The American Journal of Economics and Sociology, 77(3-4), 1113-1152. Web.
This paper elucidates how David E. Stannard describes the nature of European society before the end of the 15th Century and how this society was able to manufacture the stereotypes that are relevant enough to justify the subjugation as well as the annihilation of the indigenous population. The experiences were encountered in the Northern Hemisphere. There is also the relation of several horrific instances of viciousness as indicated by Stannard.
In his book, David writes about the nature of life and the society in general in the New World before the coming of Columbus, the invasion which came with the arrival of Columbus, and the concept that what took place should be considered as genocide (Winin 78). The phase before the arrival of Columbus is not entirely peaceful. Nevertheless, it was a set way of life whereby the indigenous Americans enjoyed the kind of isolation they were subjected to from the rest of the world and reached a level of development at the end of it all. People were highly exploited and suffered from all sorts of diseases. Some lost their lands and ended up remaining in the unfortunate positions they are in today (Stannard 77).
For over four hundred years from the beginning of the first Spanish assault against the people of Arawak, Hispaniola in the 1940s to the massacre of the United States Army in the 1980s, the native inhabitants of South and North America endured an unrelenting firestorm of aggression. During this period, the indigenous population that lived in the western Hemisphere reduced by over 100 million individuals. David Stannard argues that both the European together with white American destruction of the indigenous people of America presented the highly massive act of genocide in the history of the entire world (Winin 5).
Stannard shows a portrait of massive richness and the varied nature of the United States before Columbus most fateful voyage in 1494. Stannard then takes the path of genocide from the Indies to Mexico as well as other parts such as Central and Southern America. He further goes to the Southwest of California and the North Pacific Coast. Stannard makes a revelation that in case European or white Americans managed to go, the indigenous people were caught between the possibility of imported plagues as well as barbarous turmoil. This typically resulted in the annihilation of about ninety-five percent of the total population. According to Stannard, those kinds of people who did such acts were inhuman. He believes that through digging deeper into ancient Europe, the attitude of Christians towards sex, race, and war is one of the driving forces. Through them, the cultural grounds are well prepared towards the end of the middle ages (Stannard 91).
Through the advancement of a hypothesis that is most likely to bring about the controversy, the writer argues that the architects of the American Holocaust relied upon the same ideological wellspring the same way it was with the later architect of the Nazi Holocaust. It is one of the ideologies that are still precariously alive and has mainly featured among the American validation for military intervention both in South East Asia as well as the Middle East. Stannards work is meticulously detailed. It is a work of impassioned scholarship that easily ignites both historical and moral debate.
Works Cited
Stannard, E David. American Holocaust: The Conquest of the New World. Oxford: Oxford University Press US, 1993.
Winin, Pereira. Inhuman rights: the western system and global human rights abuse. New Orleans: Other India Press, 1997.
Among the developed countries, the United States is one of the countries that have the highest number of old people. This population is growing at a pace that is higher compared to the other nations in the world. This paper uses the phrase old population to mean persons whose age is 65 years or more.
The number of such persons was roughly 40 million a decade ago. However, this figure is expected to rise to hit 90 million in the course of 2050s, owing to the current situation where the rate of birth and death are low in the US. When this huge and young generation attains the age of 65 years and more, there will be a dramatic rise in the number of people in the need of extensive attention.
This phenomenon of an aging population is fast becoming a global trend, especially with the great improvement of healthcare systems around the globe. An aging population in the US is bound to have some negative effects on the countrys economy. For this reason, an analysis of the trend in the American aging population and its economic impact is paramount to have a sense of what is to be expected in the future in a bid to establish better planning policies. This paper intends to explore the issue of the ageing population and its implications on the US economy.
Economic Impact on the Healthcare System
Traditionally, people followed some set guidelines concerning what to eat, dress, say, and/or present before other people. Such norms had a significant impact of peoples health and moral standards. People could live and die because of their old age and not because of any complications.
However, in the contemporary times, individuals have shifted their lifestyles into eating and/or doing as they please. Such liberty has been associated with the rising health complications where people are dying because of diseases that are solely related to their eating habits or behavior. Hence, it is expected that there will be a drastic rise in the demand for medical services in the year in the near future. Most of the current resources will be stretched to the healthcare industry.
According to projections, the drastic increase in the demand for health care services will be accompanied by need for millions of medical professionals to handle the aging population. Such a rise in the ageing population will strain the healthcare system financially, thus making it unable to handle it (Hashimoto and Tabata 582). The government will be unable to hire more healthcare workers to take care of them on a long-standing basis.
Moreover, the available medical professionals will not have the required energy to handle the increased demand. In fact, many among them will be retiring and probably in need of the same kind of care that they had been offering. Others will be old and weak to the extent that they will be unable to perform effectively in relation to their younger counterparts in the same career.
The rise in the requirement for more healthcare professionals will hurt the economy since it will not be able to sustain the increased demand for the medical employees. The amount of the available resources for hiring of new healthcare workforce will also be limited, thus leading to an economic crisis. The government will be straining to sustain the ageing population.
High Costs of Training Medical Professionals
The expected demand for medical staff will be accompanied by increased costs of training health professionals to manage the anticipated old-age complications. A greater need will specifically be for health workers who can work on a long-term basis specializing with the elderly group (Jeannie 226).
Such workers are better placed to handle the ageing population whose health demands differ from those of ordinary patients. For instance, the ageing population is often susceptible to many of the chronic illnesses. Old people have a weaker immune system compared to their younger counterparts. As such, they tend to be immensely affected by many of the unceasing illnesses. The situation will call for more financial resources to be allocated to the preparation of more specialized healthcare practitioners to handle the elderly patients.
Such physicians understand the need to exercise a lot of patience when dealing with old people. They may need to take more time on their patients as some of these patients may show varied reactions to certain treatment, thus calling for a specialized approach to each patient (Jeannie 226).
This situation requires the availability of a large pool of such caregivers. In the case of the US, this demand will not be feasible since the economy will be unable to handle the upsurge in the numbers of unproductive, sick, and ageing population that will be unable to access proper healthcare. Importation of human personnel to handle the crisis will prove an expensive affair for the American economy, only serving to water down the economic milestones that have been achieved through sheer hard work.
Further, it is unfortunate that the number of medical students who are willing to take a course that deals with old-age complications is falling, thus putting the future of the care of the ageing population at risk (Jeannie 226). 3 percent of all students who are taking medical courses in the United States study geriatrics. There is bound to be a mismatch between the number of patients and the right number of healthcare personnel to attend to their needs.
For instance, the number of medical practitioners who are trained to handle the average patient may be far more than then recommended number for a given patient population while that of geriatrics professionals may be far too low. Such a scenario will present a strain on part of handling the elderly patients.
The government will have to pay more to increase the pool. It might even be required to outsource workforce. All these strategies have an implication of the US economy. Besides, it will be a waste on part of the ordinary medical practitioners since they will be expensive to the economy since they will be paid for doing less work. This financial strain is bound to slow down the economy.
Deaths because of Compromised Quality of Healthcare and Reliance on Family Members
With the immense pressure on the healthcare system, the quality of care for the ageing population is bound to fall. Due to the advanced age of the patients in this case and the complexity of the care they require, the available caregivers will be forced to compromise the health of their patients in an attempt to serve as many patients as possible (Kortebein and Means 113).
Since people are the most valuable resources that any government can boast of, the compromised health situation will imply heightened number of dormant resources in the US. The situation also implies a reduced workforce in other sectors and hence an ultimate decline in the economic rank of the US.
The available caregivers, including untrained family members, will choose to serve each patient to some a certain extent after which they will move to the next patient who will be in greater need of their attention, time, and services. The result will be the worsening of the US populations conditions, which will also lead to early death in some cases.
This situation will have some devastating effects on the family members who will have to slow down their economic activities as they grieve the loss of their old parents (Kortebein and Means 113). The slowed economy will affect the gross domestic product negatively.
Further, the use of family members into providing care for their old parents implies that they will be forced to sacrifice some part of their work time to provide care for their parents.
This situation will lower their productivity and their output levels. It will not be desirable given the fact that good performance of the economy is what can guarantee both the family members and their parents a better life. Moreover, due to the low skill level on part of the family members with respect to the kind of care that their parents need, they may turn out to be inefficient.
Unpreparedness on Part of the Elders
The rapid upsurge in the ageing population is in part due to unpreparedness on the ageing population (Eiichi 36). Old people lie in the category of dependants. The US economy will have to increase its share of financial resources that it sets for this class. Many of the old people have not taken up medical insurance that can guarantee them proper care in their old age.
Some of them are currently in legislative and other influential positions that can enable them influence policies in a direction that suits their general future needs. However, they do not seem to take any solid steps in the preparation for the effects of the upsurge in population.
Further, elders tend to visualize a scenario where their own children will take care of them in their old age. They tend to assume that their children will have the time and resources to handle them. For this reason, they worry less about the impact of the rapid increase in ageing population that they will have on their families and the economy (Eiichi 41).
They fail to understand that their care will negatively affect the economy by straining the available resources while making their children miss important economic activities that help in developing a better economy. Hence, understanding factors that have or are bound to increase the population of the old people in the US will be crucial so that the US government can prepare economically to handle the situation.
Why the Rising Old-age Population
The witnessed rising of the aged population can be traced back to the Second World War when people chose to shift their way of doing things that had been set by the society. They considered the issue of giving birth to many kids a traditional affair. In fact, in 1950s, a mature woman was expected to bear a minimum of four children, as opposed to the situation as from 2000 when a woman is expected to bear at most two kids.
Statistical findings confirm that the population of this class of people was already high and that the financial pressure that they had experienced was linkable to the already established traditional principles (Wiederhold, Riva, and Graffigna 411). The situation was further reinforced by technological advancements in field of medicine that allowed the treatment of certain illnesses that were initially problematic.
Development of vaccines also meant that the certain diseases could be managed. This situation has seen the lifespan of this age bracket rise beyond the initial average where many of the people in this category live to their old age. In the US, they currently represent roughly 30 percent of the total population. The existence of the baby boomer generation has contributed immensely to the problem of an extremely large aged population that strains caregivers within the health care system (Wiederhold, Riva, and Graffigna 411).
Many health caregivers will stop working in the coming years. This situation will certainly contribute to the challenge of handling a rapidly increasing ageing population (Tacchino 45). Even though such retirees may be able to take care of themselves to some extent, they will be economically insignificant since they will not be in a position to help in serving the large population of the elderly.
In addition, their withdrawal from active service represents some form of loss to the economy since their services remain dormant, despite the many elderly people who are in need of them. However, considering the US situation, retirement is below old age meaning that the retirees will still have some energy.
If their services will be put to use, they will reduce the magnitude of the problem of ageing, especially the economic effects. Their contribution will avert a situation where the government has to outsource services that they offer. However, their impact will be insignificant since they will participate for a short while and then run short of energy because of their age. Hence, their withdrawal from work will have significant economic implications (Tacchino 46).
The natural life has increased significantly over the years since 1950. This observation means that more people are living longer. The situation contributes immensely to the issue of a rapid rise in the size of the ageing population (Tacchino 45).
The increase in the life span has followed a combination of factors that include, but are not limited to, medical breakthroughs, reduced cases of war, institution of workplace policies that promote safer working conditions, and the leading of healthier lives through physical exercise and eating a balanced diet.
With an increased life span, many countries are forced to grapple with large populations of the elderly who depend highly on taxpayers and other entities for their survival. Their unproductive nature puts a heavy burden on other taxpayers. The overall effect is the reduction of the income per person in the affected countries. In fact, using the 2009 census results, the US has 39.6 million elderly people. This high number has limited the countrys ability to compete with other economic powerhouses internationally.
Lack of proper training for students in medical courses contributes to the problems of an ageing population. Due to the complexity of the medical complications that are associated with the ageing populace, it is paramount for the US government to invest in healthcare givers by providing adequate geriatric training for them to be in a better position to handle the elderly in the society.
The witnessed inefficient levels of training have left a good number medical school graduate with low assurance levels with respect to their abilities to take care of the aged populace.
It is a waste of valuable resources to train such persons only for them to perform their duties inefficiently. This finding also shows some incompetence on part of the educational system in terms of imparting the right skills to students to enable them perform their duties diligently, especially when it comes to issues relating to the care of their elderly people in the society.
The lack of self-assurance on part of the medical students brings about greater anxiety on the effect that the rapid rising size of the ageing population is bound to have on the economy. It adds to the unpreparedness that puts the future of various economies in the world at risk of collapse due to an extremely large and overly unexpected population of dependants.
The evident lackadaisical attitude among medical students to take up geriatrics courses is attributed to their small salaries. Despite policies that have been designed to handle the issue of salaries, less efforts have been put to address health professionals pay issues. It seems like the importance of the geriatrics physicians to the health care industry and the US economy at large has been underestimated (Kortebein and Means 167).
Lack of incentives on part of students to take up courses relating to long-term care is well manifested in the decline in the number of new enrolments by students in such courses. The result of low enrolments in geriatrics courses will definitely serve to cripple governments efforts to handle the upsurge in the elderly population.
It is quite demeaning for a geriatric physician to receive a salary that is lower than what is received by health trainees who join the medical field to gain practical skills to complement the knowledge that they have acquired in class. It is quite unacceptable to have such a pay disparity between a medical professional and a health trainee.
Failure on part of the healthcare industry to prepare efficiently for an increase in the size of the ageing population has been influenced largely by ignorance on the part of players in the healthcare industry concerning the need for greater investment in care giving that satisfactorily handles health issues that elderly face (Kortebein and Means 162).
For this reason, it is paramount for the US government to understand how diseases vary in terms of complication for the elderly in comparison with the average patient so that it can allocate the necessary financial resources that will help in managing health issues of the aging populace.
Americas healthcare system bases its care on persistent and long-term care. The acute care entails the treatment of diseases that last for a short time. The main types of illnesses that lie in the category of acute care revolve around short-term injury, possible rehabilitation following an injury, and short-term illnesses. Examples of such care may include treatment for a wrench, common cold, and appendicitis among others (Kortebein and Means 160).
It may also include recovery by mothers from the delivery of their babies. On the other hand, chronic care encompasses monitoring and treatment of diseases or disorders that are ongoing in nature on a long-term basis. Worse, such conditions are associated with the aged population.
Examples of these cases may include cerebral palsy, high blood pressure, sickle cell anemia, heart disease, rheumatic arthritis, and Alzheimer disease. The family physician or primary caregiver usually spearheads the management of chronic care (Kortebein and Means 173). Even though no definite cure is usually available chronic conditions, the care managers objective is to stop the disease or slow down its progress to optimize the health of the patient.
Long-term care involves an extension to the medical and social services that patients with chronic illnesses require to enable them lead an independent life as much as possible amid the various challenges that they face. The ageing population requires such a care. However, the US government has to dig deep into its financial basket to reach the better part of the significantly high population of the aged.
A good comprehension of this fact by the government and other stakeholders such as medical practitioners is crucial in availing proper health care to the elderly population (Kortebein and Means 165). The health industry needs to realize how the need for both acute and chronic care varies for it to be in a better position to handle the ageing population.
With the rapid increase in the elderly population, the requirement for acute health care is fast decreasing as the aged populations need for chronic long-term care increases. If not well checked, the effect of this situation will be a mismatch in the focus between the availability of services and the requirements by the population that is in need of health care (Overcash 142). With the high number of elderly persons, the demand for chronic long-term care will be high while the health care systems ability to handle them will be limited, owing to the depletion of healthcare funds from the US government.
On the other hand, the demand for acute health care will have fallen significantly with the capacity of the health system to handle health matters remaining high. In turn, this situation will represent a loss to the economy in terms of the idle capacity in acute care and a strain on the part of resources that will be available for chronic long-term care. Such a scenario serves to emphasize the crucial need for the US government to be keen on the trends in the demand for the two categories of health care services.
Demand for Chronic Disability or Disease Care in the US
Figures relating to the need for chronic care show a worrying trend given the preparedness of the health system to handle the patients with chronic illnesses. A long-term care survey conducted nationally in 1999 showed that there were about 7 million American citizens with chronic diseases or disability.
Source: (Hashimoto and Tabata 572)
The above findings show a positive correlation between age and chronic diseases. Therefore, the US has to use these results to determine the amount of resources and strategies that it has to set aside for the aging population. One million aged Americans out of the seven million are in dire need of assistance in carrying out their routine activities. Such figures show a high level of dependency in the American economy.
This situation has serious implications based on the unproductive nature of the aged people who have to be supported. Failure by the health system to recognize the impact of the increased dependency and needs of the elderly on the demand for health care services threatens to magnify the effects of the ageing population on the health care system and other stakeholders in the economy. Such stakeholders include taxpayers who will be forced to spend time and resources more in maintaining the ageing population (Overcash 139).
Strategies to adopt to handle the Ageing Population
Despite the worsening health situation of the aged population, the US government has a room to adopt various strategies whose implementation will end up saving its declining economy.
The ageing population is bound to bring with it certain big problems. Averting such problems is the best approach as opposed to waiting for them to occur before attempting to solve them (Madison and Bockanic 58). This section presents the key plan that the US needs to implement to avert a full-blown crisis that may accompany an unprecedented sharp increase in the ageing population.
Serious improvement is needed in the healthcare system to enable it be better prepared for a rapid upsurge in the population of the elderly. The US government needs to avail funds to help in improving the available facilities to handle the increase in the elderly population that has been influenced mainly by the baby boomer generation (Madison and Bockanic 58). This plan will help in reducing pressure on the available healthcare facilities.
Handling patients on a long-term basis requires greater use of hospital facilities for a long time, a factor that may disadvantage other patients who have acute illnesses that require short-lived contact with the health service providers.
There is also a need for the recruitment of geriatric staff that has the appropriate skills that are necessary in handling medical complications that are associated with the ageing population. This strategy will reduce pressure on the available geriatric physicians, thus enabling them to deliver quality services to their patients (Jill et al. 228).
Due to the shortage in the number of local geriatric physicians, some countries have resorted to hiring them from other countries to meet the local demands of the ageing population on the healthcare system. This trend is fast catching up in various countries such as Germany (Eiichi 34).
The US may also need to employ the same strategy if local solutions turn out to be inefficient in handling the rapid increase in the size of the ageing population. Even though this strategy may be expensive, it is better compared to a case of shortage in staff members due to the value of human life that cannot be determined in monetary terms (Overcash 144).
The importation of such workers by Germany and its counterparts has helped in filling a crucial gap in the healthcare system, thus enabling the countries to meet the needs of their ageing population. Low numbers of geriatric specialists in the United States contributes immensely to the predicament that threatens the capacity of Americas healthcare system to handle the rapid increase in the number of elderly people.
A big portion of medical graduates lacks the confidence to handle the elderly patients (Madison and Bockanic 56). The situation can be reversed if more of them are encouraged to specialize in geriatrics. Besides, for health care workers to be certified, they need to have the ability to perform some of the basic geriatric care (Madison and Bockanic 57).
The US needs to invest heavily in training more medical professionals to revert the issue of inadequate personnel who can handle old-age-related complications. Standards of care that relate to the handling of elderly patients are bound to increase if more students are encouraged to become geriatric specialists (Overcash 142). With specialized practitioners who are available to handle the increased number of elderly patients, a crisis that is imminent in the healthcare system can be averted.
Conclusion
Clearly, the rapid rise in the ageing population presents an immense challenge to Americas healthcare system. It has serious implications on its economy. The rapid increase has been occasioned by the aftermaths of the Second World War when then US high population utilized the technology to boost then worse state of health facilities. Improved health care reduced the levels of deaths and births. Initially, the US healthcare system handled a smaller number of elderly patients.
However, the current rate of increase in the elderly patient numbers has presented a huge economic challenge. Issues surrounding geriatric specialists such as low salaries and low interest in the specialty have served to worsen the problem by contributing to human resource shortage.
Some countries have resorted to importation of labor to cover up the shortfall in personnel to handle the elderly patients. Encouraging more students to specialize in geriatrics and improving the available facilities in the US healthcare system can also help in improving the status quo and hence stand a better chance to handle the rapidly increasing elderly population.
Works Cited
Eiichi, Oki. Japans Aging Population and Its Silver Care Industry. SERI Quarterly 4.4 (2011): 34-45. Print.
Hashimoto, Ken-Ichi, and Ken Tabata. Population Aging, Health Care, and Growth. Journal of Population Economics 23.2 (2010): 571-593. Print.
Jill, Augustine, Amit Shah, Nirav Makadia, Ankar Shah, and Jeannie Lee. Research: Knowledge and Attitudes regarding Geriatric Care and Training among Student Pharmacists. Currents in Pharmacy Teaching and Learning 6.2 (2014): 226-232. Print.
Kortebein, Patrick, and Kevin Means. Geriatrics. New York, NY: Demos Medical Pub, 2013. Print.
Madison, Roland, and William Bockanic. Retirement: Dont Slow Down, Speed Up! Strategic Finance 96.6 (2014): 56-59. Print.
Overcash, Janine. Geriatric Oncology Nursing: Beyond Standard Care. Interdisciplinary Topics in Gerontology 38.1 (2013): 139-45. Print.
Tacchino, Julie. Will Baby Boomers Phase into Retirement? Journal of Financial Service Professionals 67.3 (2013): 41-48. Print.
Wiederhold, Brenda, Giuseppe Riva, and Guendalina Graffigna. Ensuring the Best Care for Our Increasing Aging Population: Health Engagement and Positive Technology Can Help Patients Achieve a More Active Role in Future Healthcare. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking 16.6 (2013): 411-12. Print.
San Joaquin is one of the counties in the state of California (San Joaquin County, 2016). San Joaquin County has a population of around 690,000 people. One unique aspect of this community is that San Joaquin City is in another county. The county seat is in Stockton City. Created in the year 1850, this county borrows its name from the San Joaquin River. The county is famous for the Tracy Tire Fire of 1998.
The authorities allowed the 1998 fire to burn for over two years because extinguishing it could pose numerous environmental threats (San Joaquin County, 2016). In terms of size, this county has an area of 3,690 square kilometers. Approximately 2.5 percent of the area is covered by water. The county boasts of a national area known as the San Joaquin River National Wildlife Refuge (SJRNWR). The county is among the top 100 most populous metropolitans in the United States (San Joaquin County, 2016).
The major newspapers published in the county include the Lodi News-Sentinel and The Record (San Joaquin County, 2016). The county boasts of the Stockton Airport and Port of Stockton. San Joaquin County is known as the home of walnut processing in the world.
Tools, Description of San Joaquin County and Interpretation of Collected Data
Several tools were used to identify the health risks and needs associated with the county. The population economic status assessment tool was used to examine the income of different groups in the county. The tool also examined the demographics of the county. The community safety inventory was used to analyze the major health problems and risk factors. The cultural assessment tool outlined the social issues affecting more people in the community.
The disaster assessment and planning guide focused on the countys preparedness to deal with various events such as fire outbreaks (San Joaquin County, 2016). The windshield survey examined specific issues such as transport, news media, and the availability of amenities. The population health scavenger hunt tool identified the existing health opportunities and support for many people in the county.
Population Economic Status
Analysts have indicated that the population of the county was around 726,000 in 2015. The county has been observed to be one of the most diverse in the state. The racial constitution of the county includes 58 percent of whites, 6.8 percent of African Americans, 11.4 percent of Asian Americans, and 1.1 percent of Native Americans (San Joaquin County, 2016). The remaining 16.3 percentage is constituted of the other races (San Joaquin County, 2016). Statistics indicate that 54.3 percent of adults are married or staying as couples. Studies have indicated that the average family in the county had 3.5 individuals. The average household revenue stands at 41,200 US dollars.
Males had an annual income of 39,200 while females had 27,500 dollars annually (San Joaquin County, 2016). Around 17.7 percent of the countys population lives below the poverty line. The majority of the affected persons are either below 17 or above 65 years of age. The number of criminal offenses is one in every one thousand persons. The level of unemployment in the county is 9.8 percent. Around 21.6 percent of the population lack health insurance coverage. Twenty-six percent of the population has limited access to dental health care. Almost 42 percent of the population faces challenges whenever trying to access various health services.
Disaster Assessment and Planning
The occurrence of the Tracy Tire Fire disaster in 1998 led to new measures in an attempt to prevent future events (San Joaquin County, 2016). Since the county is largely an agricultural area, small-scale disasters can affect the welfare of more citizens. With the county receiving heavy rains annually, floods are usually common thus calling for better planning. Disaster assessment, planning, and coordination are executed by the Office of Emergency Services (San Joaquin County, 2016). This office is a division of the General Services Department. Whenever there is a disaster, the department collaborates with different healthcare organizations, the police, and the local agencies to address the problem. The local Red Cross office plays a positive role whenever there is a disaster in the county.
The county has several avenues to sensitize the population whenever there is a disaster. Notifications can be done via various Weather Services. Radios, televisions, police departments inform more people about every disaster. The Office of Emergency Services (EOC) provides immediate support whenever there is an emergency (Office of Emergency Services, 2016). The OEC provides adequate care, shelter, food, and clothing materials whenever there is a disaster. The agency collaborates with different stakeholders and partners to address the needs of more people. The nature of the disaster dictates the support systems and evacuation mechanisms employed by the EOC.
Community Safety Inventory
Several issues affect the lives of many people in this county. To begin with, agriculture is practiced thus exposing more citizens to chemicals such as herbicides and pesticides. The presence of a major river in the county increases the risk of contamination to more people and natural creatures. Greenhouse gases are emitted by different manufacturing plants. Statistics show that 2.4 percent of all households are at risk of contamination from these chemicals and gases. The county has several disposal units for materials such as tires. This fact explains why the 1998 Tracy Tire Fire disaster changed the countys history forever (Office of Emergency Services, 2016).
Groundwater has continued to face new threats due to various economic activities. Frequent power outages make it impossible for more people to engage in their economic activities. Traffic accidents are common in this county. The presence of major highways in the county increases the prevalence of accidents (San Joaquin County, 2016).
Cultural Assessment
San Joaquin County is known by many people in the country as the home to the largest city in that field for bankruptcy (San Joaquin County, 2016). This county is celebrated by many Americans because it is one of the most diverse in the nation. However, the county is characterized by huge economic gaps between racial groups (San Joaquin County, 2016). Some parts of the county have been characterized by increased cases of homicide. Many people do not have access to quality care.
The county is associated with various farming activities. The community struggles with a wide range of challenges such as mental illness, economic instability, unaffordable housing, poor dental health, and obesity (San Joaquin County 2016 community health needs assessment, 2016). The Central Valley has been characterized by increased use of illegal substances and a high prevalence of asthma.
Windshield Survey
The completed windshield survey exposed several attributes in San Joaquin County. To begin with, the survey indicated that many homes where single-family dwelling (San Joaquin County 2016 community health needs assessment, 2016). Most of the buildings were constructed using brick and concrete. A small number of houses especially in Central Valley were constructed using boards (San Joaquin County 2016 community health needs assessment, 2016).
Another unique attribute of the county is that most of the homes have modern features and lighting systems. The homes have trees and flower gardens. The yards are carefully designed and maintained. Although many people have private cars, public transport is offered by various companies such as the San Joaquin Regional Transit District. This company provides adequate transportation services across Stockton City.
The county has three airports that support the needs of many citizens in the county. These include Tracy Municipal Airport, Lodi Airport, and Stockton Metropolitan Airport. Stockton has well-lit streets. The sidewalks in this urban region are carefully maintained and clean. There are several grocery stores, chain stores, and gas stations throughout the town. Stockton City also has several shops and cafeterias that can be accessed by different community members.
The community boasts of several publications such as The Record, Big Monkey Magazines, and the Lodi News-Sentinel. Pacific is another common newspaper that features sports and opinions (San Joaquin County, 2016). The famous TV show is Sons of Anarchy and is set in a fictional town in the county. Many people in the county embrace the use of various social media networks such as Twitter, Pinterest, and Twitter.
Scavenger Hunt
San Joaquin County Public Health Services partners with different stakeholders and communities to promote the health outcomes of more people in the county. The agency offers useful information to ensure more people eat balanced foods. The Medical Marijuana Identification Card Program is a campaign undertaken by the department to support individuals who abuse drugs. The department offers numerous ideas to ensure parents create the best environments for their infants. The department promotes most of the programs undertaken to address the health needs of the population (San Joaquin County 2016 community health needs assessment, 2016).
For example, the Nutrition Education and Obesity Prevention (NEOP) program are used to address the health issues affecting more people in the county. The department is located on Hazelton Avenue, Stockton. Citizens can visit their physical location or call to receive timely health information. Users can acquire vital information about the department through social media networks such as Facebook.
The Fire Prevention Bureau of San Joaquin County liaises with different departments such as the Sherriffs Office to deliver adequate services whenever there is a fire breakout (Office of Emergency Services, 2016). The department provides quality services throughout the county. The department adopted the California Fire Code in 2013 in an attempt to improve the quality of its services. The bureau collaborates with the Community Development Department to ensure more people have access to fire management services (San Joaquin County, 2016). Firefighters are usually equipped with the best resources and skills. Useful information about the department can be obtained from the countys website. The agency responds to accidents, fires, and rescue missions.
The Office of the Sherriff for San Joaquin County was established in 1850. The Sherriff serves for four years and can be reelected by the countys citizens. The current Sherriff is Steve Moore (Office of Emergency Services, 2016). The Sherriffs Office plays a significant role in promoting the best environment for every individual. The office provides desirable law enforcement ideas and services. The Office works 24/7 to improve the level of security. The departments physical address is 7000 Michael Canlis Blvd, French Camp (San Joaquin County, 2016).
The YMCA of San Joaquin County is located on 2105 W. March Lane, Suite 1 in Stockton City. The major programs include pre-school support, day camp, and child care. Sporting activities for the youth include soccer, basketball, flag football, Lincoln basketball, and baseball (YMCA of San Joaquin County, 2016). The YMCA also focuses on several initiatives to support youth development and encourage more individuals to engage in social responsibility.
The YMCA has a free-weight center, basketball courts, gymnastics arena, tennis courts, running track, and an aerobics studio (YMCA of San Joaquin County, 2016, para. 4). Individuals are allowed to register for free. Those with financial needs are encouraged to sign up. The YMCA offers financial support to different individuals with various needs. Scholarships are also provided to support the needs of more people. Citizens with diverse needs and members should visit the office from Monday to Friday.
The office operates from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm (YMCA of San Joaquin County, 2016). The office is closed on public holidays such as Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Presidents Day. Members of the society can offer their donations to support more individuals in the county. The YMCA offers new opportunities thus encouraging youths to hang out with their peers and develop better behaviors.
San Joaquin County Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program supports the needs of children, women, and infants in the county. The program is managed and monitored by the County Government. The office is located at 620 N Aurora St, Stockton City (San Joaquin County, 2016). The office can be accessed from Monday to Friday.
Other Epidemiological Indicators
A survey conducted in early 2016 indicated that the number of people dying from cancer-related conditions was 175 in every 100,000 citizens in the county. The infant mortality rate was 6 in every one thousand births. Asthma was seen as a major health problem affecting the people of the county. The survey indicated that 21 percent of the population was affected by the health condition (San Joaquin County, 2016). Diabetes is a major disease that continues to affect more people in this county. Around 10.4 percent of the population suffers from diabetes. Child obesity has increased compared to the national average.
Over 21 percent of children in the county have a body mass index of >30 (San Joaquin County, 2016). Heart disease affects over 6 percent of the population. Sixteen percent of the population is uninsured while 31 percent receive either Medicaid or Medicare (San Joaquin County 2016 community health needs assessment, 2016). The survey also indicated that over 25 percent of children were living in poverty. The majority of the households (41.3 percent) recorded a low-income status.
Three Problems in San Joaquin County Based on Healthy People 2020 Goals
Several problems have been observed to affect the welfare and health outcomes of many people in San Joaquin County. The three major problems identified in this county include obesity, asthma, and inequality. The Healthy People 2020 topic Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity can play a positive role in dealing with the problem of obesity. According to the initiative, a healthy body can make it easier for the body to fight various diseases such as obesity (Obesity prevention in San Joaquin County, 2016).
Balanced diets can support the health needs of more citizens in this county. More people in the county should be encouraged to avoid fast foods and engage in physical exercises. Over 73 percent of the countys dwellers do not engage in physical activities. Healthy People 2020 offers new approaches that can deliver positive results. The Environmental Quality Indicator initiated by Healthy People 2020 can play a positive role in dealing with asthma. The government can identify several measures to minimize the presence of specific allergens because they trigger asthma. A cleaner environment initiative will support the health needs of more people and address the problem of asthma.
One of the overarching goals of the Healthy People 2020 initiative is to eliminate disparities and improve the health outcomes of all groups (Healthy People 2020, 2016, para. 3). That being the case, the goal should be used to address the problem of disparity in the county. This is the case because more children lack basic needs. The number of households living below the poverty line is extremely high. New measures should be implemented in an attempt to deal with this challenge and make it possible for more people to lead better lives.
Problem to Address about Healthy People 2020 Objectives
Overweight and obesity have become common health problems in San Joaquin County. That being the case, the county should implement various initiatives to support the health needs of its citizens by the Healthy People 2020 objectives. This county has several resources that can be used to deal with this problem. For instance, San Joaquin Public Health Services supports several programs to address the problem of obesity. These programs include the Network for a Healthy California Campaign and the Central Regional Obesity Prevention Program (Obesity prevention in San Joaquin County, 2016).
The first campaign usually targets people from low-income backgrounds or residents. The second program has been focusing on the health needs of many people in South Stockton. The role played by these programs is to ensure the problem of obesity in the county is addressed (Murphy, 2011). Several universities and community organizations have been included in the programs to deliver positive results. It should also be observed that the countys YMCA has been encouraging more youths to engage in various exercises. The presence of city parks and footpaths can play a positive role in encouraging more people to engage in physical exercises.
Primary Prevention Topic
The Healthy People 2020 initiative outlines several strategies that can deal with the major health problems affecting the American population (Obesity prevention in San Joaquin County, 2016). Borrowing a lot from this initiative, the best topic to deal with obesity is a physical activity and healthy nutrition. The current resources and organizations available in San Joaquin County should be used to support the needs of more people. Measures should be undertaken to encourage more citizens to exercise regularly. They can do so by walking, jogging, or engaging in different physical activities. The presence of gymnastic studios in the county will support this initiative.
Balanced diets characterized by vegetables and fibers should be considered by more individuals in the county. The San Joaquin Public Health Services can undertake numerous initiatives to educate and sensitize more people about the dangers of fast-foods (Murphy, 2011). Such individuals will be encouraged to eat balanced diets every day.
References
Healthy People 2020. (2016). Web.
Murphy, W. (2011). Obesity: USA today health reports: diseases & disorder. New York, NY: Twenty-First Century Books.
Obesity prevention in San Joaquin County. (2016). Web.
Laurel, Maryland is a home to the aged, who are vulnerable to disease outbreaks, emergencies, financial needs and disasters, among others. These people therefore need care giving services and standby resources that would assist in times of disasters and emergencies, given their vulnerability in responding to such situations.
The county assists these people in various ways. These include rental assistance, provision of subsidized rental houses and maintaining of the environment to befit them. This paper will explore Laurel, Maryland, the vulnerable group in the area as well as resources that Prince Georges County have put in place to assist them (Johnson, 2011, p. 1-48).
Laurel, Maryland
Laurel is a city in the United States, which is located in the Northern part of Prince Georges County, Maryland. It also lies in Howard and Anne Arundel Counties. It has a population of over 20000. Residents include the aged who are over 60 and vulnerable to various problems, such as health, abuse, finance as well as accommodation, among others.
The Vulnerable communities in Laurel face several challenges. Among these problems, include addiction to drugs, housing problems, as these groups of people are usually needy. Housing is a big problem in Laurel for the vulnerable. They are usually assisted by the state and non-governmental organizations by offering subsidized rental houses as well as rental assistance to some of them.
Special needs of this group in times of disaster
Price Georges County is also a home to the aging community who need assistance. These people need caregiving , maintained health as well as good social welfares that enable them to be independent. The aged also face other problems such as abuse, which may include physical, psychological or sexual. They need protection against such problems, among others (Madlyn, 2011, p. 1).
Community resources are currently available in Prince Georges County
Maryland to help this group
Prince Georges County is surrounded by primary emergency services that help the community in fire outbreaks as well as rescue squad. The companies are Laurel Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue squad. The county also offers several services with availed resources. These include Adult day care centers that provide programmed day care activities for adults to enhance their well-being. The services are run throughout the week except the weekends.
They are operated in secure, cheerful and supportive environment. Other services include trips and tours as well as nutritious meals for the aged. The County also provides disaster response services to the residents in Laurel.
The County also provides resources and information that assist in restraining elders abuse, through various agencies such as the department of family services, which include administration on aging elder abuse outreach. Other assistance provided is financial help to cover for health and food assistance for this group of people (Johnson, 2011, p. 1-48).
Conclusion
Laurel, Maryland is a home to the aged and serves them by providing almost all their needs. These people are vulnerable to disasters and emergencies. They also have numerous health problems, which require caregiving. Their mobility is also limited, and this means that they require transport assistance. This is because , they are weak and cannot undergo the tiresome activities of the day such as long drives. In response to this, several governmental and non-governmental organizations have put in place mechanisms to help them.
Among these organizations, include Madlyn and Leonard Abramson Center for Jewish life, which provides care giving services as well as rental care to the vulnerable in Laurel, Maryland. Others include the federal government through Prince Georges County, which is availed with several resources aimed at providing assistance whenever required by the vulnerable group (Madlyn, 2011, p. 1).
Reference List
Johnson, J. (2011). Family services. The Prince Georges County Government. Web.
Madlyn, A. & Leonard, A. (2011). Care Giving Services. Madlyn and Leonard Abramson Center for Jewish Life. Web.
According to my research, so many business articles and trade publications cover the issue of poor children as a vulnerable population, but the three that I selected include Journal of Dental Education, International Journal for Equity in Health and Journal of Public Health Management & Practice.
The Journal of Dental Education covers critical issues that are related to the dental health and education of children, especially those who come from poor backgrounds. The source is credible since the authors name is given, and the credentials of the author are given on the first page. I do not think there are any hidden agendas that drive to the authors point of view. This is so because the author has given the information needed in the correct way, and he has done enough research that relates to the subject under discussion.
Other factors that show the source is credible include the year of publication, which is dated as 2001,thus showing the information is reliable; the location and contacts of the source; no citations, indicating that the author is the original idea bearer; and, lastly, the information is given on a general view, and not on a personal view, thus showing no bias.
The International Journal for Equity in Health covers the problems associated with healthcare access relative to socioeconomic status of children. The source is credible since the names of the authors are given together with their credentials, including contacts and affiliations. According to me, the authors have no hidden agendas in presenting their points of view since they are presenting their information according to the research they carried out, as well as their experience in the field.
There are also other factors that show the credibility of the source: the year of publication is dated as 2011, thus making the information to be reliable; the website is published under Bio Med Central Ltd, a part of Business Media and Springer Science; and the authors are the original sources of information since there are no citations. These sources do not show any form of biasness as they present their cases on a daily basis encounter, as well as through research findings.
The Journal of Public Health Management & Practice enhances the vulnerable populations health disparities measurement. I think the source is credible since the authors names are given. Their credentials are also given, as their respective affiliations are indicated. I do not think the authors have any hidden agendas while presenting their points of view. This is because they have done research, and they have presented their information according to that research.
There are no citations, an indication that they are the original sources of information. For more verification of the source credibility, the year of publication is updated as 2010, hence it is reliable; the article is published under the Lippincotts Nursing Center. Com Website; and the authors are not biased since they have given a general view of the whole idea.
Summary
Poor children are one of the vulnerable populations that exist. When poor health is experienced in the early years, the early development of the child is affected, as well as the wellbeing and the health of the child in future (Kristiansson et al, 2009). Despite health being a fundamental right, there is less to enjoy about children born in less privileged families.
Health disparities exist between the rich and the poor children in several domains such as health insurance coverage, environmental health, behavior, healthcare services access, and health outcomes (Shi et al, 2008).
This is due to the relationship that exists between health and socioeconomic status, which tends to be reciprocal. It is reciprocal because poverty tends to detract itself from the resources that encourage health maintenance, which, in turn, detract from the paths of employment and education to the mobility of income (Kristiansson et al., 2009).
Healthcare access is the right of every individual. The relationship that exists between health and income, however, has created inequality dimensions that are longstanding and well documented (Kristiansson et al, 2009).
History has shown that the poor have been more vulnerable to the health prevailing threats, which include contagious diseases in the contagious era, famines during the agricultural era, and in our own era, degenerative diseases (Mouradian, 2001). The poor have been vulnerable as opposed to the rich in accessing environmental health, accessing healthcare services, health insurance coverage, health outcomes and healthy behaviors (Kristiansson et al, 2009).
To decrease the health disparities in children, the health of children from poor backgrounds should be improved. This can be achieved by ensuring that proper investments are made in order to reduce the childrens exposure to the well known toxins, to enable families to access high quality as well as responsive care, for healthy behaviors to be promoted, and, lastly, to get rid of illnesses.
References
Kristiansson, C., Gotuzzo, E., Rodriguez, H., Bartoloni, A., Strohmeyer, M., Tom son, G., & Hartvig, P. (2009). Access to healthcare in relation to socioeconomic status in Amazonian area of Peru. International Journal for Equity in Health 8(11).
Mouradian, W. E. (2001). The Face of a Child: Childrens Oral Health and Dental Education. Journal of Dental Education. 65(9).
Shi, L., Stevens, G. D., Lebrun, L. A., Faed, P., & Tsai, J. (2008). Enhancing the Measurement of Health Disparities for Vulnerable Populations. Journal of Public Health Management & Practice. 14(6), 45-52.
The idea of a parent or a mother abandoning their child in a designated place to determine their fate to strengthen society is unethical in many ways in todays society. However, this was not new in ancient societies like Rome, Greece, Japan, and China (Gosselin, 2019). They had a designated place where the parent would take their child and leave it for someone to take them. The child could be left whether naked or clothed, and they also believed that their fate would be decided by gods too. This report focuses on how the abandonment of some children strengthened the population in the ancient communities.
One of the ways they used to control the population in the society was childrens exposure. The children were left out in the wild to starve to death, be eaten by wild animals, or be taken by a family that did not have children. In the early Middle Ages, children were left at places like churches, and a small fee was offered as an oblation (Gosselin, 2019). The exposure was a way for the family to save economically or financially because the arrival of an extra mouth to feed in a family struggling with poverty is a problem. Wealthy families adopted the lucky children while others died. The children abandoned in the wild did not have a chance of survival anyway, considering there were wild animals.
The roman society often valued children with what they brought to the table or their proper function to the community. Female children were most likely to be exposed to or abandoned than male children (Holzwarth, n.d). They termed the ancient roman society as the mans world because they controlled if a child was to live or die, and the mother had no opinion on it. The males were considered necessary because they continued the family legacy or name. Although the society preferred males, if a family had more male children, they would expose even the healthy ones to avoid sharing wealth between them.
The society also exposed children with physical deformities because they saw that they were an embarrassment to their families. They had to get rid of them to avoid taking care of them, considering they had no value to the society and would only become a burden to the family (Cook, n.d). The exposure did not only involve children with deformities but healthy children were not spared at all. Children with deformities were also considered a threat to the economy, and they would drain the family if the child were sick from the deformation.
Infanticide was another way the ancient societies used to strengthen their population, which involved killing newborns. According to ancient Rome, a child was not considered human until they could eat solid food or talk. Girls were often killed, and if society did not kill them, the community would sell them into slavery and prostitution. Infanticide was done when a child was illegitimate, or they posed a threat to society.
Giving up the child or exposing them still exists in todays world, but it is more humane than the previous way. With the introduction of the adoption method, the children can survive with a good family. Even though the family is not well off, the child can get a good family to take care of him/her. Contraceptives have made it possible for a family can control the number of children they have.
References
Cook, S. (n.d.). Roman women and children Part 3 Newborns. Web.
Gosselin, D. K. (2019). Family and intimate partner violence: Heavy hands. Sixth Edition. Pearson.
Holzwarth, L. (n.d). Population control was no joke in Ancient Greece and the Roman Empire. Web.
The African Americans in Brooklyn comprise of 35 percent of the total population. The actual population of the blacks is 862, 864. The females are 50.2% of the population. On age distribution, persons below 6 years represent 6.8%, 6-19 years represent 14.5%, 20-64 years represent 69.6% and those above 64% represent 9.1% of the total population. The infant mortality rates stand at 4.5 deaths per a thousand live births.
This is a registered decrease from 6.4 deaths per a thousand live births in 2000 to the current 4.5 deaths per thousand live births. The death rate per 100,000 of the population stands at 18.27 as at 2010. The average life span of the population stands at 48 years (Brooklyn Center 2010).
In the last five years, the morbidity rates for cancer, HIV, and other chronic ailments have been on the rise. For instance, the incidence rate for cancer has risen from 22 per 1000 per year in 2004 to 28 per 1000 per year in 2010. However, the prevalence rate has decreased from 20 per 1000 per year in 2004 to the present 18 per 1000 per year in 2010.
The mortality rate for cancer has increased from 32 per 100,000 to 48 per 100,000 from 2004 to 2010. As indicated in the government data, 89.9 percent of the population had full immunization at the age of 9 months. Besides, 92.1% of the population that were eligible for immunization was immunized at the age of 12 months (Brooklyn Center 2010).
Psychological considerations
This community is characterized by a constant population growth rate of 4%. At present, almost the entire population is literate and this is projected to hit the 100% mark in the near future. The most significant event in the history of the black-Americans in Brooklyn is slavery before freedom as black revolution swept this city.
Most of the adults in the population had firsthand experience of discrimination, and unequal resource allocation. The most common mode of interaction within this community is the informal communication, politics, trade, and cultural events. The community network is comprised of the formal and informal educated persons that fall into different social classes within the population class (Brooklyn Center 2010).
The main sources of stress in this community are absolute poverty, unplanned settlement, and competition for limited social amenities such as piped water, gas, and electricity. Besides, poor sanitation and insecurity have also been blamed for the multiple stresses in this expansive community.
Physical environmental considerations
The Black American community within Brooklyn is spread evenly within New York boroughs. Brooklyn boasts of extensive settlement with each cultural group occupying different estates. Specifically, this community occupies Brownville neighborhood. The population density of Brooklyn is 34, 920 per square mile.
The average house unit density is 13,180 per square mile. There are 234,000 households occupied by the African American within this city. The average size of each household size is 2.8. The main safety hazards in Brooklyn community are the numerous chemical spills, contamination as a result of poor solid and liquid waste management, and water, soil, and air pollution from industries (Brooklyn Center 2010).
The main source of community water supply in this community is the Brooklyn Aquifer System runs from New York. Water originates from the East River and is piped to the community. Brooklyn community has well maintained solid and liquid waste disposal and management authority.
There are treatment plants for solid and liquid wastes besides recycling plants. Garbage is collected periodically for disposal by the authority. However, the nuisance factor is the unpredictability of garbage collection and repair of sewage systems. The main impending disaster in sewage management is the leaks from damaged pipes which sometimes take long to repair, thus exposing the residence to contagious diseases.
Socio-cultural considerations
The local authorities and the police represent the arm of the government in this community. For instance, the Eastern Brooklyn police post provides security to this expansive community. The unofficial leaders are community policing committees, business leaders, and religious leaders who offer leadership during crisis and cultural events.
This community is very active in politics and the majority of them are members of the Democratic Party. The minority group in this community is the Hispanics who represent 10% of the entire population. The main language spoken by this community is English. However, some members speak French, Spanish, and German besides English.
Due to poverty level of 20%, the average income is at $3000 per month. The household income is $32,135 while median income per family is $36,188. Per capita income is $16,775. On an average, the community literacy level is 80%. Besides, those with collage education account for 35% of the population.
Seventy percent of the members of this community are Christians while 20 percent Muslims. The other percent is distributed across other religions. The community boasts of different cultural skills in cinema, literature and theater. Among the notable renowned cultural centers include the Brooklyn Museum, BMA musical awards, several artists, and filmmakers (Brooklyn Center 2010).
The employment rate stands at 69 percent. Those informal sector accounts for 49 percent while those in private sector accounting for 51%. The main means of transportation are rail and road. There are bus and shuttle services that cover all the quarters of the community. The social services include affordable education, entertainment, and parks and recreation, centers. The major employers are the government, local authorities, and private businesses. Occupational hazards include workplace injuries, infections, and overwork, and possible death.
Behavioral considerations
Consumption patterns: Due to low income, the consumption patterns of this community align with basic needs. Despite this, the majority of this population is aware of healthy dietary and is at the forefront of promoting healthy eating habits. The alcoholic consumption rate stands at 32% with drug abuse more prevalent among the young adults. Tobacco smoking is prevalent among the young male adults and is associated with 10 deaths per 10,000 persons.
The main leisure activities include music, social sporting events, entertainment, and neighborhood talent shows. The main health hazards posed by these recreational facilities include injuries, cuts, infections, and deaths. Contraceptive use has been embraced by this community due to intensive campaigns on the need for family planning. On an average, 65 percent of the females have used contraceptives in their life (Brooklyn Center 2010).
Health system considerations
There are several community health programs run by members of this community. The community is conscious of their health, birth control, healthy eating and living habits, and adaptation of preventive health policies. The major health services offered are affordable hospital and clinical treatment, free TB and HIV centers, free post illness recovery support, and mobile clinics.
Most of the clinics within this community offer free prenatal care besides affordable emergency services such as ambulance, fire, and accident treatments. Reflectively, the government of the United States finances most of the healthcare services. These services have been subsidized and are currently afforded by the members this community.
Reference
Brooklyn Center. (2010). Quick Facts from the US Census Bureau. Web.
The elderly population is faced with a myriad of problems, not least because their bodies are frail, and as such, they are more susceptible to getting sick. In addition, because their income is reduced, they are likely to get access to proper nutrition and the right healthcare services (Tobin, 2009). As such, there is a need to devise practical solutions that, when implemented, will ensure that their health and welfare is improved significantly.
As people grow older, their children and loved ones become increasingly concerned about their safety and health, and more so when they are faced with complex non-medical and unfamiliar medical situations (Tobin, 2009). Although adult children may be willing to take care of their aging parents, nonetheless, the time dedication to their careers and taking care of their own children does not leave much room for them to take care of their parents as they ought to, which is why some of the parents prefer going to nursing homes or home for the aged where they can get personalized health care services by a professional at a fee.
One of the most practical solutions that can be implemented with a view to the health and welfare of the elderly is choosing a suitable nursing home that is well equipped to deal with the needs of this vulnerable group (Smith, 2007). Sometimes, it becomes a bit hard to locate the ideal facility within your locality, and if this happens, there is the need to identify someone who leaves near to the health care facility of choice which can be relied on as the contact person and possibly attend to the needs of the elderly.
At times, a nursing home may not actually be the best option, especially if the elderly person in need does not wish to be placed in a home for the elderly. A recent report indicates that an increasingly higher number of Americans now prefer home-based care for the elderly, as opposed to putting them in a nursing home (Tobin, 2009).
However, it is important to have a professional caregiver in place to assists with taking care of the elderly while at home. Sometimes, you can be lucky enough to get a professional caregiver who would not mind to moving in with the elderly persons in need of healthcare so that he/she can be able to offer care and support to the elderly person around-the-clock.
Another practical solution that can be implemented to help the elderly is to place them under the care of dependable family caregivers (Tobin, 2009). Research shows that elderly individuals who are receiving care from dependable family caregivers tend to be by and large, much happier in comparison with their counterparts who are being attended to at the nursing homes. Nonetheless, it is important to ensure that the home-living arrangement is convenient so that the caregivers may not break down as a result of burnout and stress. In this case, the family is not only spared the agony of having to contribute to the hefty healthcare bills if the elderly person in the family is receiving healthcare at a nursing home, but they will actually get time to bond with the elderly.
Families can also hire a care manager who would then advise them on how best to solve the dilemma facing them on the issue of taking care of their elderly members of the family.
It is important to ensure that the right mechanisms have been put in place in order to ensure that the elderly members of the family are taken care of. This is because they are frail physically, and they are also economically deprived.