Chronic Illness Among Homeless Population - Case Study Example

Name: Course: Date: Chronic Illness Among Homeless Population One of the primary concerns of any government is the health of its citizen. To point out clearly, it is the responsibility of the sitting government to ensure that every citizen fundamentally enjoys and easily access the standard of health that is highly attainable. To begin with, the term health can simply be defined as the rate functional efficiency in living organisms. The World Health Organization (WHO), as pointed out by Skolnik (2013) defines health as a state of mental, physical and social wellbeing ‘of an individual. This explains that the term health does not just refer to the absence of a disease which causes metabolic systems of living organisms not to function properly. State of the environment and social wellbeing are also included as critical components of health. Although the ensuring that the health of the members of a nation is primarily the responsibility of the government, it is very detrimental and nearly impossible to exclude the contribution entirely from health issues. This is because the citizens have the power control and even improve their health. For instance, malaria and some chronic communicable disease like tuberculosis, sexually transmitted diseases, HIV/AIDS and Hantavirus can be prevented by taking certain health precautions. Most governments consistently encourage their citizens to take control of their health Keleher and MacDougall (2011). This process of allowing people and giving them the ability to improve and increase the control over their health is referred to as health promotion. Health promotion focuses beyond the behavior of an individual. It extends to include a wide range of environmental and social intervention. According to Raingruber (2014), promoting the health of communities, families, individuals and populations transforms the health of a society and the health care system. This makes health promotion a central role of nursing practice. Over 80 per cent of the people who are homeless have been diagnosed with some kind of chronic disease (Valvasori et al (2011). Furthermore, between 40 to 60 percent of the homeless American population are being severely affected by effects of substance abuse. Cocaine, marijuana, gum sniffing are some of the substances that are highly abused among the homeless population (Valvasori et al 2011). Such substances increase the prevalence of chronic medical conditions such as HIV/AIDS, cardiac arrhythmias and chronic diseases of the liver, kidney and lungs. Substance abuse is also one of the major challenges that affect the homeless Australian population. For instance, Tran (2014) observes that more than 80% of the homeless Australian populations suffer from emphysema which is caused by smoking. My Health Promotion Program As a result of the statistics of various studies, it is clear that substance abuse is one of the major problems that need to be addressed. This will reverse the problem of chronic diseases among the homeless population significantly both in Australia and throughout the world. This paper will design an intervention measure to address the chronic disease among the homeless population. In so doing it will discuss the nature of the homeless population, the chronic diseases that affect them. Aim of the Program The primary objective of this program is to develop a preventive care services for the homeless individuals. The program commences by a critical analysis of the chronic diseases that are prevalent among the homeless population so as to address their causes. The following are the three main objectives of the program: 1) Identifying risk factors so as to develop protective factors that will enable prevention of chronic diseases among the homeless populations. 2) Establish mechanisms of increasing awareness of the available health support services for the homeless population, different payment services that respond to their needs and the dangers of alcohol and substance abuse. 3) To establish an approach that will enable the collection of data on the diseases commonly experienced among the homeless families and individuals. Over the years the entire world has been challenged by the chronic medical among the homeless individuals. Homelessness is one of the most important social problems that affect most urban areas in the contemporary society. In some cases, chronic diseases are the products of poor mental and physical status which ends up in poverty nearly all the time. For example, when an individual is mentally unstable or has poor physical health, they may not be in a position to work so as to cater for their upkeep or even pay off their mortgages. In the long run, they are likely to end up in the street. In this case, it is important to note that the deterioration of both the physical and mental health of an individual is subsequently results in the deterioration of their income as well. This opens the door to the challenges the challenges that in turn generate chronic illnesses. For example, homeless people have very little or no resources at all. In rare cases, the homeless population depends on the financial assistance programs as a source of income. Most of them get money from begging and what they get can barely sustain them. This is to say that most of the homeless populations have no cash income from any sources. In fact, it is the lack of a stable income that has prevented them from having a stable housing. This even makes them more vulnerable as they require a wide range of resources to be supported. The homeless populations often have poor health than the low-income families or any other members of the population. Both their physical and mental health is often torn down as a result of the harsh conditions that they experience. To start with the physical health, homeless population falls sick more often than any other individuals. According to Grant et al (2007), homeless population fall sick four or five times more compared to other people within the society. The children in such conditions are the ones who are usually hit by sicknesses and chronic diseases. This is because their immune system is not as strong as those of the adults within the population. Grant et al (2007) observes that children in such conditions experience respiratory infections four times than other children. The experiences they undergo also take a serious toll on the mental health of the homeless population. They are often in distress. For instance, they go hungry for long periods of time compared to other people in a community. This is likely to cause psychological, emotional and behavioral problems among them. The homeless populations lack proper housing. They lack accommodation. That is the reason they are homeless in the first place. Since they do not have a concrete source of income, they are not in a position to pay so has to have a decent accommodation. For these reasons, they live in temporary accommodations or public spaces. In most cases, the homeless people have to apply to apply for support from the government agencies or nongovernmental organizations that volunteer. In this case, they have to pass through different eligibility criteria so as to qualify for the housing grants or qualify for the support. Even so, still many countries experience insufficient housing facilities (Andrew 2004). This implies that the houses are often never enough, given that the cause homelessness still continue to cause many to be homeless. The Choice of the Vulnerable Population As highlighted before, one of the major concerns of the government of any nation is the healthcare of their populations. The choice of the vulnerable population was constructed on these premises. With high level of economic uncertainties that cloud the contemporary economies, many families are likely to disintegrate due to inability to facilitate basic needs due to loss of jobs. To point out clearly, the rates of the homelessness are likely to increase in the future. For instance, according to the survey conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (2011), in the year 2011 the number of homeless people in Australia increased by 14.7% between 2006 and 2011. This is about 105,237 people. The number rose from 89,728 in the year 2006. In a similar manner, the study indicates that the rate of homelessness in Tasmania, New South Wales and Tasmania rose by 20% within the same time frame. The number of people in temporary accommodation camps also increased significantly. This is to say that the rate of the vulnerable populations will always go up. However, quite often the government is not adequately prepared to handle their needs. Chronic condition program statement on the indigenous Aboriginal Australians released by Cooperative Research Center for Aboriginal Health (2005) indicate that there are serious knowledge gaps around the chronic conditions especially among the Aboriginals and the homeless populations. This is to say that the public health intervention programs are hardly equipped with sufficient information that is required to effectively implement the intervention measures. In other words, the mainstream programs are hindered by lack of information about the welfare of the homeless people. Moreover, unlike other members of a society, including all low-income earners, the homeless populations are trapped in the dark. They do not have access to the information about the types of help that are available for them. This is because they do not have televisions, radios or cannot afford the newspapers. In addition, the choice of the homeless families for this program was steered by humanistic concerns. A lot of people who are homeless and suffer from chronic illnesses or condition are in such states not because they chose to. Some were overwhelmed by circumstances and therefore require assistance. Some of them are innocent children who were born in such conditions because of what befell their parents. Homelessness does not terminate citizenship. Therefore, they need to reached and helped just like any other person in a society. Literature Review To meet its objectives the program will address both the existing problems identified among the homeless families and the root cause of the very problems. In this way, the program will ensure that the identified problems are addressed and the future risks are reduced. The purpose is of the program is to identify the requirements of the chronically homeless populations and itemize the services that match their requirements. Concurrently, the programs will increase awareness both to public health systems and the homeless populations. This is very important to the help providers and intervention programs because it will enable them to be aware of the risk factors so as to understand what they are dealing with. In this case, the action plan will devise an action plan that will enable outreach. Increasing the contact with the homeless populations is very important. It will ease the resistance and the suspicions that face the people who are mentally ill. McQuiston (2004) elaborates that meeting homeless people at the point of location is a key strategy in reaching out to them and understanding their conditions. It is also a vital starting point that leads to the pathway that engages them to be part of the available services and treatments. This is far much effective than waiting for them to go to the healthcare facilities. Some of them may not go because of suspicion and low self esteem. Olivet et al (2010) explain that outreach is regarded as very essential services. It entails going out to the streets and the temporary shelter to meet people who are not reached by site-based services. Several outreach programs have in place over the years. Whitbeck (2011) point out that very little is recorded concerning the effectiveness of the services. To make this service more effective, the program will be conducted over a long period of time so as to earn the trust of the chronically homeless people. The program will also identify and engage other homeless individuals who volunteer to take part in it. In addition, the program will identify, engage individuals who formerly on the streets but have been relocated to permanent housing or are having been treated from chronic illnesses. However, it is important to note that all individuals taking part in the outreach will trained before being deployed. This will equip them with the necessary skills that will enable them to deal with the impatience of the homeless populations (Daiski 2005). As such, the program will be more effective compared to the existing ones. The basic point is to encourage homeless individuals to recognize that they are important members of the society. It is also to encourage them to take up the programs that are available for their own welfare. Encouraging them to stop abusing substances and rehabilitating the addicts will also be incorporated in the process. In conclusion, homeless people are more vulnerable to chronic illnesses compared to any other members of a society. They suffer from severe physical health. In most cases, they are malnourished because they do not eat properly. Besides, they live under harsh conditions which further risk their vulnerability. They are also faced with mental illnesses, depression and psychological problems. The choice of the chronically homeless individual population with chronic diseases was determined primarily by the need to address the healthcare of people who do not have homes and out of humanistic concerns. The intervention program is designed in such a way that it improves the relationship between the caregivers and the holes people. This will greatly alleviate cases of chronic illnesses among the target group as well as to prevent serious conditions in the future. List of References Andrew, B. (2004). Homelessness. London: Stationery Office. Australian Bureau of Statistics (2011). Census of Population and Housing: Estimati homelessness. Accessed on August 18, 2015 from http://abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Latestproducts/2049.0Main%20Features22011 Burt, M. R., United States., Urban Institute., & Planmatics, Inc. (2010). Life after transitional housing for homeless families. Washington, DC: U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Policy Development and Research. Cooperative research Center for Aboriginal Health. (2005). Chronic Condition Program Statement Daiski I. (2005). The health bus: healthcare for marginalized populations. Policy Polit Nurs Pract: 6: 30-8. Grant, R et al. (2007). Asthma among homeless children in New York City: An update. American Journal of Public Health. 97(3): 448-450. Keleher, H. & MacDougall, C. (eds). (2011). Understanding Health. (3rd ed.). South Melbourne: Oxford University Press. McQuiston, H. (2004). Outreach to the homeless: craft, science, and future implications. J Psychiatry Pract 10: 95-105. Olivet, J. et al (2010). Outreach and Engagement in Homeless Services: A Review of the Literature. The Open Health Services and Policy Journal, 3, 53-70. Raingruber, B. (2014). Contemporary health promotion in nursing practice. Burlington, Mass: Jones & Bartlett Learning. Skolnik, R. L., & Skolnik, R. L. (2012). Global health 101. Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning. Tran, D. (2014). Homeless Australians have shorter lifespan than Africans: study, Accessed on August 18, 2015 from http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-09-12/australian-homeless-have- shorter-lives-than-some-africans/5741024a Whitbeck, L. B. (2011). Mental Health and Emerging Adulthood among Homeless Young People. Madison Avenue, New York: Psychology Press. . Read More

Substance abuse is also one of the major challenges that affect the homeless Australian population. For instance, Tran (2014) observes that more than 80% of the homeless Australian populations suffer from emphysema which is caused by smoking. My Health Promotion Program As a result of the statistics of various studies, it is clear that substance abuse is one of the major problems that need to be addressed. This will reverse the problem of chronic diseases among the homeless population significantly both in Australia and throughout the world.

This paper will design an intervention measure to address the chronic disease among the homeless population. In so doing it will discuss the nature of the homeless population, the chronic diseases that affect them. Aim of the Program The primary objective of this program is to develop a preventive care services for the homeless individuals. The program commences by a critical analysis of the chronic diseases that are prevalent among the homeless population so as to address their causes. The following are the three main objectives of the program: 1) Identifying risk factors so as to develop protective factors that will enable prevention of chronic diseases among the homeless populations. 2) Establish mechanisms of increasing awareness of the available health support services for the homeless population, different payment services that respond to their needs and the dangers of alcohol and substance abuse. 3) To establish an approach that will enable the collection of data on the diseases commonly experienced among the homeless families and individuals.

Over the years the entire world has been challenged by the chronic medical among the homeless individuals. Homelessness is one of the most important social problems that affect most urban areas in the contemporary society. In some cases, chronic diseases are the products of poor mental and physical status which ends up in poverty nearly all the time. For example, when an individual is mentally unstable or has poor physical health, they may not be in a position to work so as to cater for their upkeep or even pay off their mortgages.

In the long run, they are likely to end up in the street. In this case, it is important to note that the deterioration of both the physical and mental health of an individual is subsequently results in the deterioration of their income as well. This opens the door to the challenges the challenges that in turn generate chronic illnesses. For example, homeless people have very little or no resources at all. In rare cases, the homeless population depends on the financial assistance programs as a source of income.

Most of them get money from begging and what they get can barely sustain them. This is to say that most of the homeless populations have no cash income from any sources. In fact, it is the lack of a stable income that has prevented them from having a stable housing. This even makes them more vulnerable as they require a wide range of resources to be supported. The homeless populations often have poor health than the low-income families or any other members of the population. Both their physical and mental health is often torn down as a result of the harsh conditions that they experience.

To start with the physical health, homeless population falls sick more often than any other individuals. According to Grant et al (2007), homeless population fall sick four or five times more compared to other people within the society. The children in such conditions are the ones who are usually hit by sicknesses and chronic diseases. This is because their immune system is not as strong as those of the adults within the population. Grant et al (2007) observes that children in such conditions experience respiratory infections four times than other children.

The experiences they undergo also take a serious toll on the mental health of the homeless population. They are often in distress. For instance, they go hungry for long periods of time compared to other people in a community.

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