Healthcare Finance Discussion

please reply to each of the two discussions below. Each response should be 1/2 page and include one source.

#1 discussion response to Christi C. A wide array of medical and social services exists to help meet the complex needs of vulnerable populations; however, the United States has been unable to curb health care costs or improve health outcomes for this segment of the population. The vulnerable population I will discuss is those living below the poverty line in all racial and ethnic groups. The two issues that impact health outcomes for this specific vulnerable population that I will discuss are sedentary lifestyle and diet. Those who live in poverty lack pedestrian and building facilities, safety from traffic, and safety from crime (Galen College of Nursing, n.d.-a). These become barriers to living a healthy lifestyle. Living in a community where there are no sidewalks that can put this vulnerable population at risk for a sedentary lifestyle. The lack of sidewalks may cause many of these families to feel unsafe when going for walks. If families lack safety from traffic and crime, they may be uncomfortable walking in their neighborhood or allowing their children to play in the yard or with their neighborhood friends. Maintaining a healthy diet may be a challenge for families living in vulnerable populations. Some of these communities may lack nearby produce or grocery stores. Many may also not have the funds to purchase healthy food, which tends to cost more than a fast-food run at McDonald’s. In 2005, 350,000 deaths in the United States were due to unhealthy diet habits (Galen College of Nursing, n.d.-a). An intervention that could improve health outcomes mentioned for this vulnerable population is becoming involved in social-ecological models. The evidence of a social-ecological model is that an individual’s behavior change is more successful when policies and influences in the wider environment prompt and reinforce healthy behavior such as safe and attractive places to walk and bike. Also having accessible stores to obtain healthy and affordable food (Galen College of Nursing, n.d.-b). Giving advice on how to avoid a sedentary lifestyle and having a good diet can be hard to achieve if these individuals live in poverty. That is why I chose to discuss the social-ecological model. It is an intervention that targets more than just an individual, but also the social contexts where individuals live and work (Galen College of Nursing, n.d.-b). References Galen College of Nursing. (n.d.-a). Health and behavior [PowerPoint slides]. https://files.galencollege.edu/media/bsn/NUR410/unit_3/unit_3_1/NUR410_unit_3_1.pdfLinks to an external site. Galen College of Nursing. (n.d.-b). Providers and interventions [PowerPoint slides]. https://files.galencollege.edu/media/bsn/NUR410/unit_3/unit_3_3/NUR410_unit_3_3.pdfLinks to an external site.
# 2 discussion reply to Tori A.
I currently reside in the state of Florida where the majority of the population is elderly; over 65 years of age. Many people come to Florida after retirement to enjoy the sunshine and the beach. However, the elderly are considered a vulnerable population for various reasons. One; with age comes to the regression of being able to care for yourself physically and/or mentally (Beales, 2017). Some older people end up with dementia, and some end up with chronic diseases such as MS or Parkinsons’. With age comes regression of health. They also lose retinal adjustment in the eyes causing poor vision, revoking their privileges to drive on their own. This leaves them dependent on family or public transportation. The elderly tend to lose mobility with age needing to use a walker or wheelchair. This can cause living impairments with certain homes; homes with stairs, or homes on a hill. This can require dependence on family members as well or the need to move into an assisted living facility. The elderly are often retired, not making a steady income. This can affect one’s ability to pair their bills or even buy food. This can cause malnourishment and homelessness. From a nursing standpoint, working in the ICU, nutrition is one of my top priorities for my patients. Many patients when they come to the ICU have a diagnosis of failure to thrive on top of other medical issues. Nutrition is vital in the healing process of the body, we have to properly fuel our bodies in order to repair and maintain our health. I make sure to sit with my patients and personally feed them so I know what they are consuming and how much. I also like to stay present when physical therapists and occupational therapists come to see my patients. I like to see where their limits are and how I can help to improve their range of motion and activities of daily living. I like to help my patients maintain their own sense of independence as much as I can.
Beales, D., & Tulloch, A. (2017, October). Community care of vulnerable older people: Cause for concern. Retrieved July 20, 2020, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3782794/