Health Promotion and Disease Prevention in Vulnerable and Diverse Populations Windshield Survey

Health Promotion and Disease Prevention in Vulnerable and Diverse Populations Windshield Survey

Health Promotion and Disease Prevention in Vulnerable and Diverse Populations Windshield Survey

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Windshield Survey Essay Sample

Health Promotion and Disease Prevention in Vulnerable and Diverse Populations

Windshield Survey

Overall condition of the neighborhood or community:

     The community consisted of homes that seemed to be about 15-20 years old, with some homes being in need of repairs and a few overgrown yards.  Most buildings were occupied and were accessible to the differently abled members of the community.  The streets were tree-lined and the sidewalks and roads were clean and well maintained, although they were not well lit at night.  Parks and restaurants were the only form of public recreation and cultural or entertainment options in the community.  Sports facilities, schools, libraries, theaters or historic sites were conspicuous in their absence.  The only form of commerce that seemed evident in this community were restaurant and grocery or convenience stores, and in fact several storefronts remained vacant.  This indicated that people would find it hard to find employment within their own community unless they had the means to set up and operate their own business or had a vehicle to commute to another community.

     Public transportation seemed adequate and easily accessible to the people of the community and was well used, particularly by the differently abled.  While several private cars were in use and some bicycles too, however most people preferred to walk.  The community offered no bike lanes or bike racks.  The only public service facilities were the health department and a dental clinic. There were no fire stations, homeless shelters or food banks.  Since there were no religious establishments like churches or temples, it was hard to determine the cultural make-up of the community.  The health services within the community included a 153-bed hospital, a large (20 chairs) dental clinic and a three-storied health department building with a medical clinic, pharmacy and an immunization center.

Vulnerable or diverse population living within the neighborhood or community:

     The community was essentially white, largely consisting of young and middle-aged people, a few with disabilities.  Most were not educated beyond high school, and seemed to be unemployed.  There was evidence of drug and alcohol abuse amongst the youth.  The young people appeared to be dependent on the elderly for housing and sustenance, rather than the other way around.  The elderly in the community therefore were more vulnerable since they needed the younger people for support and companionship.

Demographic changes for the vulnerable or diverse population (the elderly):

     The elderly population (people aged 65 years and above) in the United States was 47.8 million in July 2015 and they constituted 14.9% of the total population.  This number is projected to increase to 98.2 million by 2060, when one in four Americans is likely to be 65 years and above (United States Census Bureau, 2017).

Health risks and health care needs for an elderly population:

     The prevalence of chronic health conditions increases with age and hence it can be anticipated that as the percentage of elderly people increases over time, the number of people with chronic diseases will likely increase.  More than 90% of those aged over 65 years reported having chronic diseases such as Alzheimer’s (or other dementia), cataracts, glaucoma, heart disease, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), cancer, diabetes, arthritis and many others.  Recent demographic trends indicate that nearly all the chronic conditions associated with advanced age are likely to increase by more than 25% (Denton, F. T., & Spencer, B. G., 2010).  According to the National Center for Health Statistics (2017), heart disease, cancer and chronic lower respiratory disease are the leading cause of death among the elderly; causing over 13,400 deaths per 100,000 population among those aged 85 years and above.

BSN-FP4010 Assessment 3-1 Evidence Based Practice

Health disparities and social determinants of health that can affect the elderly:

     Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia are often seen among the elderly population and access to quality healthcare can facilitate timely treatment and care, resulting in good health outcomes.  Ethnicity is an important risk factor in developing Alzheimer’s since it is more common among minorities like the African-Americans – perhaps since older African-Americans tend to have high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels.  However, compared to the elderly white population, elderly African-Americans are likely to be diagnosed much later in the disease process, thus leading to higher morbidity and consequently higher healthcare costs (Dilworth-Anderson, P., et al, 2012).  There are several barriers that prevent elderly African-Americans from receiving their fair share of screening, diagnosis and treatment for Alzheimer’s disease – these barriers are related to their poor economic conditions; their geographical location (which may be inaccessible); and their poor understanding of the disease.

     In order to reduce social inequities and health disparities, it is imperative that the healthcare system should be set up to not just to provide timely care but also to prevent chronic disease and promote healthy lifestyles.  The aims of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 were: (a) to reduce social inequities (in terms of being able to afford and avail of quality healthcare) by increasing coverage to the uninsured; and (b) to promote prevention and improve population health by moving away from ‘paying for volume’ to ‘paying for value’ (Fukuzawa, D. D., 2013). BSN-FP4010 Assessment 2-1 Organizational Evaluation