...Elderly as a Vulnerable Population According To the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary (2002), vulnerability is the Ability to "Be Easily Physically, Emotionally, or mentally hurt, Influenced or attacked." “As one of the faster growing segments of the population, over 70 million American citizens will be considered elderly by 2030 (Centers for the Disease Control and Prevention , 2007).” The United States Census Bureau states that, the Population greater Than 65 years old is growing at a rapid pace and by the year 2050 will duplicate and will increase from 12 to 20 percent of the population. This same percentage will be considered vulnerable population. Currently 40 million of people in the United States are 65 years or older, according to the Census Bureau these numbers will be expected to double by 2050, longevity will increased and this will bring a new number of common diseases which, will make this group more vulnerable. At Any Given Time, anyone can become vulnerable, the composition of the population has changed demographically and the elderly population has increased in recent years because of the development of the science and technology, but with this increment of the elderly population the vulnerability increases as well, due to some factors that this vulnerable population is exposed to, such as increase of the needs, physical and mental limitations, and lack of financial resources. Chronic illnesses increase vulnerability in elderly patients because...
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...I feel illegal immigrants are a very vulnerable population for many reasons. Many risk life and limb to escape extreme poverty and violent homelands. Poverty and fear of deportation make them easy targets for exploitation. They are less likely to seek help for domestic violence and child abuse. Language barriers and fear of authorities, including healthcare workers make them less likely to seek medical treatment. They may even hide communicable diseases. I feel that harsher penalties and limiting their access to healthcare will only further complicate the situation making everyone more vulnerable. Children born on US soil, regardless of their parents’ citizenship are US citizens. Denying their mothers prenatal care can have serious health consequences...
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...Health and Health Care Among Elderly Asian Americans Amoldeep Kaur Written Assignment #2 Epidemiology/Public Health 240 Winter 2013 The elderly population is the fastest growing population in the United States, and the number of immigrants that fall within this group has nearly doubled (Ninez, Hsys, & Cunnigham (2005). Foreign-born elderly account for 11% of the elderly population and this is expected to quadruple in size and reach 16 million by 2050 (Terrazas & Batalova, 2009). Currently most foreign born elders belong to Europe, but this is predicted to change in the upcoming years. Asians are among one of the fastest growing elderly population in the United States (Belozersky, 2005). Majority of Asian Americans are foreign born and report speaking a language other than English (Searight, 2009). Multiple languages and dialects spoken by the subgroups within the Asian American population bring more linguistic diversity and disparities to the United States. Furthermore, fastest growing minority in the United States has been stereotyped and inherited the label “model minority”. This label neglects the problems faced by the poorer and less successful member of this group, including the elderly, “they are hobbled by less blatant but more pervasive barrier of language and culture” (Dugger, 1992). Elderly immigrants find it more difficult to thrive in a new country. In addition to the stress of immigration, English Language Proficiency poses a major issue for this...
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...Vulnerable Immigrant Population: Social, Economic, and Psychological Issues Vicky L. Minik BSHS/302 September 17, 2012 Tami Frye Vulnerable Immigrant Population: Social, Economic, and Psychological Issues It is a difficult challenge for immigrants as they try to integrate with a new environment, new language, and a new socio-economic society. This paper will reveal the social factors that obstruct immigrants from integrating into society like; poor quality and type of education for themselves and their children, lack of secure jobs and poverty level, wages resulting in inadequate housing that is poor and overcrowded, mental issues such as depression, isolation from services that could assist them as well as cultural differences that may deter them from seeking service. To fully provide immigrants with the services they need, the United States needs to research the psychological and physical effects that predict the attitudes toward immigrants. By gaining more knowledge of those practices to support the policies and programs so that service care workers can carry out the appropriate interventions to meet the specific needs of the immigrant population. A century ago the revolution served as a promoter for immigration, providing the global economy with the distribution, production, and consumption...
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...Australia. The picture has changed in the post-World War II era and the European Union (EU) is now receiving a net influx of immigrants since the mid-1900s, with an estimated 20 million migrants having arrived in the past 15 years. Worrisome to the public health authorities is that migrant groups often have a higher seropositivity for infectious diseases as compared with the host country citizens. Assessing the correct prevalence figures for newly arrived migrants is no easy task, and it is...
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...Vulnerable Population and Self-Awareness Vulnerable populations are groups that are not well integrated into the health care system because of ethnic, cultural, economic, geographic, or health characteristics. This isolation puts members of these groups at risk for not obtaining necessary medical care, and thus constitutes a potential threat to their health. Commonly cited examples of vulnerable populations include racial and ethnic minorities, the rural and urban poor, undocumented immigrants, and people with disabilities or multiple chronic conditions. Persons with disabilities and multiple chronic conditions may find it difficult to obtain insurance coverage because small employers cannot afford to add workers to their health plans who are likely to have high medical costs, and finding an affordable insurance plan as an individual with pre-existing conditions is very difficult. The geographic and economic isolation of some poor rural residents may make access to specialty care difficult, even if they are covered by insurance. Finally, prohibitions against public insurance coverage, fear of being discovered, and language barriers are all factors that may keep undocumented immigrants from seeking care. The reasons for disparities are varied. For example, in access to health care, racial and ethnic minorities may lag behind non-Hispanic whites because patterns of residential segregation separate minorities from the supply of providers, because of language and cultural barriers...
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...In order to eliminate disparities in the healthcare field and create a successful integrated delivery system it needs to be centered towards the vulnerable populations. The vulnerable populations include the economically disadvantaged, minorities, uninsured, elderly, homeless, and those with chronic health conditions such as disabilities, human immunodeficiency virus, and mental illnesses (Vulnerable Populations, 2006). These individuals are at an increased risk for poor physical, psychological, and social health. Although there is a great need for the vulnerable populations, the current financing and service delivery arrangements are not fully meeting the needs of this population. As the need of medical and non-medical services in this...
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...the Western NY Area Shantele Garner HCA430: Special Populations Vicki Sowle March 19, 2012 Certain exposures and conditions can produce a higher risk of HIV infections than others. Those exposures include, but are not limited to, sharing needles to inject drugs, receptive unprotected anal intercourse and vaginal intercourse. It’s very important that programs are put into place to educate communities of the risks involved concerning this illness. There are several programs in the Western NY, or Buffalo, NY area that addresses the needs and demands of the HIV/AIDS population. These programs are put into place to provide intense counseling, treatment options, coping mechanisms and other concerns involving the infected without prejudice and discrimination. One very well-known program in the Buffalo, NY area is called the Aids Community Services of WNY (Evergreen Health Services of WNY). Evergreen Health services is a not for profit community based organization committed to ending the AIDS epidemic and minimizing its effects in the eight counties of Western New York (Evergreen Health Services, 2007). This organization has been providing a wide range of services that assist with the daily living of those infected since 1983. One service provided is medical care. There are different types of medical care offered by this organization including primary care, this is sensitive and caters to the needs of the population served. The medical staff also specializes in the Gay...
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...Men labor was crucial for the survival of the land and the prosperity of the colonies. As for other sex, women where inessential to men but for bearing children and maintain their household. This fluctuations in the population had an overwhelming effect on women since many historians believe that women came to the New World with the advantage of disproportionate ratios that allowed them to get husbands in the colonies. However, even if they had an advantage in certain matters it was not as uncomplicated as they make it sound "[...] practically all the unmarried immigrant women arrived as indentured servants and consequently married late.", as stated by the authors Lorena Walsh and Lois Green Carr in their book, The Planter's Wife: The Experience...
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...Vulnerable Population in the Workplace Back in 1999 the U.S. Health Department set a goal to, “eliminate disparities in health and in access to service for minorities,” for Healthy People 2010 (Crist, 2002). 2010 has come and gone, and although there have been improvements that goal continues to be in place for Healthy People 2020. Some vulnerable populations are still at risk and face many barriers preventing them access to proper healthcare. Attempting to overcome these barriers will often fall on the shoulders of healthcare providers; it becomes their job to help decrease the overall health disparity suffered by vulnerable populations. In this paper the subject to discuss is the vulnerable Mexican American population and will evaluate barriers faced by them as well as barriers faced by healthcare workers, and the methods that could be used in order to help decrease current health disparities. Mexican-Americans: A Population at Risk Mexican-Americans, especially aging Mexican-Americans are an extremely vulnerable population. Currently, Hispanics are the fastest growing ethnic population in the United States and as of the 2003 U.S. Census, their population, “grew at a rate almost fourfold that of the general population—13% vs. 3.3%--over a 39 month period” (Keating, et al. 2009). That being said, non-English-speaking immigrants are often socially and economically disadvantaged, which impacts health disparities (Keating, et al. 2009). Barriers to Care There are many...
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...illegally. Some come to the United States hoping for a better paying job, a better education, or better health care. Immigrants would have the ability to give themselves and their children a better education than they could get from their own countries. Many immigrants are tired of getting paid less when they can go to the United States to earn a better wage. In the homeland of immigrants, they have poor health care compared to the United States. Similarly, the protagonist Lourdes, from the novel Enrique’s Journey by Sonia Nazario, faces the difficult choice of leaving her family and immigrating to the United States illegally. The prospects of obtaining a better paying job, allowing an individual’s child to continue his or her education, and the opportunity provide a better life for one’s family exemplify reasons why struggling individuals immigrate to the United States. The first reason why immigrants come to the United States is to search for better paying jobs. In the article by Daniel Stein, he states that the presence of a large illegal workforce discourages Americans from seeking those jobs. This allows the immigrants an opportunity to achieve a better paying job. Many immigrants were professionals back in their countries. Immigrants would get ahead of themselves and believe that the United States would provide better paying jobs, but they were wrong. Immigrants become desperate to find a decent job to send money back home, such as clothes and food. The novel Enrique’s Journey...
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...America was founded and built by the hands of immigrants from across the globe. Irish, German, British, Jewish, Catholic, Russian, Polish, Swedish- the list goes on. But where did we draw the line? At what point were immigrants considered “illegal” and obligated to obtain citizenship? Why is immigration at its highest? Most immigrants are in desperate search of the “American Dream” and the freedoms that our country offers. But the toll it is taking on the American people and our pockets is terrifying. To find the balance of helping all who seek citizenship and establishing a stable financial boundary is impossible. Americans are becoming weary of the decrease in jobs and even housing. In 1790, Congress used the power to establish a uniform...
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...HCA 430 Vulnerable Population Summary and Proposed Program The first of your two written assignments for the course will provide a beginning framework that you will utilize in the development of your Final Project: a proposal for a community-based program in your area. For this first written assignment, you will select one of the vulnerable groups identified in the text that will serve as your target population of interest throughout the duration of your next written assignment and Final Project. Choose one among the following groups from Chapter 1: ◦Vulnerable mothers and children ◦Abused individuals ◦Chronically ill and disabled people ◦People diagnosed with HIV/AIDS ◦People diagnosed with mental conditions ◦Suicide- and homicide-liable people ◦People affected by alcohol and substance abuse ◦Indigent and homeless people ◦Immigrants and refugees ◦Groups for special consideration (you may propose a different vulnerable population at the consent of the instructor) Once you have selected a group of interest, write a three- to- four page paper that covers the following: 1.Describe the impact that at least two of the factors below have on the vulnerability of your chosen group: a.Age b.Gender c.Culture/Ethnicity d.Income 2.Analyze the intersection of social, political, and economic factors affecting vulnerability (must address all three factors). 3.Draft the design of a new model program, not currently existent within your community...
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...racist campaign ads that have been airing and discriminatory legislature that has been passed has caused me to have great concern. The climate surrounding this debate has turned so “ugly” lately and I felt compelled to turn the microscope onto this issue for myself. Whether you support amnesty for illegal aliens or whether you believe that our current policy is too relaxed, there are a few facts that cannot be ignored. Several big businesses, construction companies, agriculturists, and employers in many service industries contend that the absence of immigrant workers would cause a major catastrophe in the U.S. economy. These groups, specifically, refer to the absence of the unauthorized workforce (Caulfield, 2006). Undocumented workers are estimated to fill 25% of all agricultural, 17% of office and house cleaning, 14% of construction, and 12% of food preparation jobs. Estimates suggest that about 850,000 unauthorized immigrants enter the U.S. annually, and have done so since 1990, for a total of close to 12 million (Passel, 2006) or even 2b0 million (Knickerbocker, 2006). These undocumented workers would not have...
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...Katelyn Dew Field Experience #5- Visit a health agency Nutritional- Name of agency- Health and Human Services Department (HCHHS) Address- 8000 North Stadium Drive, Houston, TX 77054 Website- http://www.houstontx.gov/health/Community/nutritionpage.html Phone number- 713-794-9090 Hours- 24 hours a day, 7 days a week Services- Counseling by: Registered Dietitians Licensed Nutritionists Graduate level Nutritionists/Dietitian Abuse Prevention- Name of agency- Harris County Child Abuse Task Force Address- P.O. Box 617, Houston, Texas 77001-0617 Website- http://hccatf.org/ Phone number- 1-800-252-5400 Hours- 24 hours a day, 7 days a week Services- Information about abuse and reporting abuse Counseling- Name of agency- DePelchin Children’s Center Address- 4950 Memorial Drive, Houston, Texas 77007 Website- http://www.depelchin.org/counseling/ Phone number- 713-730-2335 Hours- 24 Hour Hotline Services- DePelchin Children’s Center is committed to meeting the needs of children as one of the largest providers of mental health, foster care and adoption services in Texas. Through its clinical expertise and special brand of caring, DePelchin turns lives around, providing a full continuum of care including psychiatric services, counseling, residential treatment, programs for at-risk youths, parent education, foster care and adoption. Foster Care/Adoptions- Name of agency- Children of Diversity Address-13700 Veterans Memorial, Suite 100, Houston, Texas 77014 Website- http://children-of-diversity...
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