Vulnerable Population Research Paper
Vulnerable Populations in Current Events
Michelle Wallace
NUR 440
July 22, 2013
Sheila De Vaugh
Vulnerable Populations in Current Events
As society knows, the Baby Boomer generation is getting older. This generation was born between the years of 1946 to 1964 ("History", 2013). There were three million to four million babies born each year between the dates listed above, and this population made up almost 40% of the nation’s population at that time (“History”, 2013). This group of individuals also can be known as a vulnerable population. This paper will discuss what a vulnerable population is, barriers that may prevent this group from obtaining needed services and what personal experiences have been made with this vulnerable group.
In an article from the Smithfield Herald, a community is building an elder care facility. This facility will offer medical care, an on-site nutritionist, and activities for the elderly. Some of the citizens of this area are referring to this …show more content…
facility as an elder daycare. This population is thought to be a vulnerable one. According to De Chesnay and Anderson (2012), a vulnerable population are those groups with a larger than average risk of developing health problems by virtue of their marginalized sociocultural status, their limited access to economic resources, or their personal characteristics such as age or gender (pg. 5). Vulnerable populations are also any groups that have financial, physical, or mental obstacles that can prevent them from obtaining the appropriate health care they need.
Transportation, mobility, financial, and medical problems are only a few of the barriers that this vulnerable population with have to face.
Many elderly groups are living on a fixed income, which can make it difficult for them to afford their prescriptions or be able to visit a doctor. This may place their health in vulnerable state. Limited or impaired mobility is another barrier this group faces. Injuries from falls at home can lead to serious over-all health consequences of older adults. Many of these older adults may not have access to vehicles or be able to drive safely. Without proper transportation, communities will have to provide ways for this group to be able to go to the doctor’s offices. As this vulnerable group ages even more, there will be more medical problems that will arise. Most doctor’s offices only accept a certain number of medicare patients already, and this will definitely make it even more difficult for this group to obtain appropriate medical
care.
As a nurse in a community emergency department and in a busy gastroenterology office, I see firsthand how this vulnerable population has difficulties obtaining appropriate medical care. The elderly patients who I come in contact with in the emergency department states that they have to seek medical care from our facility because they cannot find a primary doctor who will accept any additional medicare patients. This makes it difficult for them to seek medical attention because of their fixed income they cannot pay up front out of pocket. I also see this group struggle in the office setting as well. These patients have difficulty affording prescriptions for their colonoscopy preps and are not willing to tell the office staff sometimes and do not show for their appointments. This makes this population at a higher risk for colon cancer.
It is easy to see how the Baby Boomers are given the name of a vulnerable population with the definition of vulnerable populations, barriers elderly patients meet from obtaining needed services, and the personal experiences listed. As nurses no matter where we live, there are vulnerable populations integrated throughout. Effective health care is dependent upon understanding vulnerable individuals and populations. Anyone can become vulnerable at different times in his or her own life under certain circumstances.
References
De Chesnay, M., & Anderson, B.A. (2012). Caring for the vulnerable: Perspectives in Nursing
Theory, Practice, and Research (3rd ed.). Retrieved from The University of Phoenix eBook Collection database.
History. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.history.com/topics/baby-boomers
Michelle Wallace
NUR 440
July 22, 2013
Sheila De Vaugh
Vulnerable Populations in Current Events
As society knows, the Baby Boomer generation is getting older. This generation was born between the years of 1946 to 1964 ("History", 2013). There were three million to four million babies born each year between the dates listed above, and this population made up almost 40% of the nation’s population at that time (“History”, 2013). This group of individuals also can be known as a vulnerable population. This paper will discuss what a vulnerable population is, barriers that may prevent this group from obtaining needed services and what personal experiences have been made with this vulnerable group.
In an article from the Smithfield Herald, a community is building an elder care facility. This facility will offer medical care, an on-site nutritionist, and activities for the elderly. Some of the citizens of this area are referring to this …show more content…
facility as an elder daycare. This population is thought to be a vulnerable one. According to De Chesnay and Anderson (2012), a vulnerable population are those groups with a larger than average risk of developing health problems by virtue of their marginalized sociocultural status, their limited access to economic resources, or their personal characteristics such as age or gender (pg. 5). Vulnerable populations are also any groups that have financial, physical, or mental obstacles that can prevent them from obtaining the appropriate health care they need.
Transportation, mobility, financial, and medical problems are only a few of the barriers that this vulnerable population with have to face.
Many elderly groups are living on a fixed income, which can make it difficult for them to afford their prescriptions or be able to visit a doctor. This may place their health in vulnerable state. Limited or impaired mobility is another barrier this group faces. Injuries from falls at home can lead to serious over-all health consequences of older adults. Many of these older adults may not have access to vehicles or be able to drive safely. Without proper transportation, communities will have to provide ways for this group to be able to go to the doctor’s offices. As this vulnerable group ages even more, there will be more medical problems that will arise. Most doctor’s offices only accept a certain number of medicare patients already, and this will definitely make it even more difficult for this group to obtain appropriate medical
care.
As a nurse in a community emergency department and in a busy gastroenterology office, I see firsthand how this vulnerable population has difficulties obtaining appropriate medical care. The elderly patients who I come in contact with in the emergency department states that they have to seek medical care from our facility because they cannot find a primary doctor who will accept any additional medicare patients. This makes it difficult for them to seek medical attention because of their fixed income they cannot pay up front out of pocket. I also see this group struggle in the office setting as well. These patients have difficulty affording prescriptions for their colonoscopy preps and are not willing to tell the office staff sometimes and do not show for their appointments. This makes this population at a higher risk for colon cancer.
It is easy to see how the Baby Boomers are given the name of a vulnerable population with the definition of vulnerable populations, barriers elderly patients meet from obtaining needed services, and the personal experiences listed. As nurses no matter where we live, there are vulnerable populations integrated throughout. Effective health care is dependent upon understanding vulnerable individuals and populations. Anyone can become vulnerable at different times in his or her own life under certain circumstances.
References
De Chesnay, M., & Anderson, B.A. (2012). Caring for the vulnerable: Perspectives in Nursing
Theory, Practice, and Research (3rd ed.). Retrieved from The University of Phoenix eBook Collection database.
History. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.history.com/topics/baby-boomers