Essay Sample on Vulnerable Populations: Challenges & Social Factors

Introduction

The vulnerable population is those who are economically disadvantaged, the low-income children, those not insured, the elderly population, homeless population, population suffering from immunodeficiency virus-like the HIV, the population with other chronic health problems like mental illness, those who stay in rural who cannot access healthcare services and it can also be among the racial or the ethnic minorities. Some of the social factors that contribute to vulnerability include poverty, livelihood, cultural belief, equity, gender, weaker social groups.

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Agency Services and the Population in Need

The population that may require the agency services include the population like the special needs groups. The special needs group may need agency services that are based on their conditions (Maddox, 2018). Another group includes the elderly population, the elderly population should be under great care because of their weak immunity disease, and they are prone to various viral and bacterial diseases. The agency services include the regular assessment of the vulnerable population. The vulnerable population should be monitored, diagnosed, and educated on various aspects of their health status.

Strategies to Improve Healthcare Services for the Vulnerable Population

Some of the strategies that can be used by nurses to improve healthcare services to the vulnerable population include strategies like engaging community members like leaders among the community. It is appropriate to engage all the community members on health issues to eliminate all the disparities that might hinder the vulnerable population from accessing healthcare services in the community. It will help in training various stakeholders in the community on how to offer healthcare services to the vulnerable population.

Another strategy is by making the services family-centered, patient-centered, and being culturally competent. The services offered to the vulnerable population should be in line with their values their cultural beliefs should be respected and must consider their needs at all the times, the vulnerable population should understand the language used when delivering the services to them making them understand all the aspects that may be needed to improve their health status. Health literacy is of much importance and should be considered all the time.

Creating a link to the non-health community providers that offer the support prevention wellness and the social determinants, they will be offering the needed support on the health-related issues to the victims and give the necessary training on healthcare problems and how to handle the issues (Tieu et al., 2017). The link will ensure that all the groups both benefit from each and do the follow up to the vulnerable population, making sure they get the needed healthcare services without any obstacles.

Addressing Cultural Beliefs and Norms in Healthcare Delivery

Cultural beliefs and norms have been a major challenge when delivering healthcare services to the vulnerable population, and it has resulted to problems to the population, most of the vulnerable population ignore the services that are not in line with their culture and most of the time when they are put into treatment plans they do not adhere to them exposing them to dangers. Before the patient is put on the treatment plan, always consider their cultural beliefs to prevent more confusion.

During the vulnerable population experience, I visited The Shepherd's table part of our lady of hope church as a volunteer for ten hours in a day, and I was able to work with the population through suffering the services like wash dishes, fold clothes, package groceries, move, furniture/household goods, help clean facilities, serve food, deliver food to shut-ins. I was able to learn from the specialist I find at the church and from my team members on how to handle the vulnerable population inappropriate manner.

Personal Experience at The Shepherd's Table

Shepherds table is a Christian center that offers the needed support to its priests and the most vulnerable population in the community. It services it by the Christian norms and practices. The church offers agency services to the vulnerable population who are unable to afford the delicious meals for themselves. They also offer fellowship services for those who need the services. The church accepts donations to help them facilitate the services they offer to the vulnerable population, the meals they offer are rich in all the nutrients that are needed by the body and the fellowship services to help develop the spiritual growth.

Conclusion

The main factor that has contributed to the vulnerable population in Shepherd's table is poverty. They are unable to provide for themselves the delicious meals with the needed nutrients. Their level of income is very low and is not enough to buy all the basic needs, including food (Maddox, 2018). They are exposed to malnutrition diseases, mostly the children in the community.

References

Maddox, K. J. (2018). Financial incentives and vulnerable populations will alternative payment models help or hurt? New England Journal of Medicine, 378(11), 977-979.

Tieu, L., Schillinger, D., Sarkar, U., Hoskote, M., Hahn, K. J., Ratanawongsa, N., & Lyles, C. R. (2017). Online patient websites for electronic health record access among vulnerable populations: portals to nowhere? Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, 24(e1), e47-e54.