Identification of Health Related Issues in the Homeless, Essay Example

Abstract

This paper identifies and describes the health related issues relevant to the homeless population. It also tackles at least three health promotion activities being utilized to help the given population as well as the community services and potential environment hazards for the people experiencing homelessness.

Identification of Health Related Issues in the Homeless

It is a known fact that homelessness is one of the many problems not just in the United States of America but worldwide. But the severity of this situation is not really understood by the greater public. As a matter of fact, homelessness extends into a more severe problem of health care. While the numbers are not exact as to the health of homeless people, one thing is for sure and that is the health condition of the homeless people are in its worst state. Some of the most prominent health conditions among there are as follows (Song, et al., 2007):

• Morbidity- it is said that homeless people are at a high risk of death. This is due to the fact that they acquire unintentional injuries by living on the streets. They are exposed to insect and animal bites that are often times left unattended causing complications and to some extent death.
• Mental Health Issues- is one of the serious health issues among homeless people. Living on the streets is very stressful with the constant struggle to survive on a daily basis. In addition, drugs and alcohol addiction increases the problem.
• Hunger and Nutrition- with no means of making a living, people experiencing homelessness are struggling to provide for their own food. Hence, the rate of malnutrition is high. Some of these people are just depending on left over foods from restaurants or from food being thrown out. The dietary needs are not being met accordingly.

Health Promotion Activities

In order to promote the health being of every person experiencing homelessness the government and some non-government organizations are using technologies to enable every homeless to get the support that they need from the community, their families, friends and health workers (Power & Hunter, 2001).

In addition, the use of technologies also helps these vulnerable groups of people to connect with possible employers and better their lives. Mobile screening is also being utilized in order to ensure that even the ones that do not have access to hospitals or means of going to a health care facility can be served with quality health care. Vaccination and disease prevention are also some of the ways where health is promoted in the community.

Community Service

One of the best ways that community service is rendered to the homeless population is through the service learning activity. This program allows nursing students to have an opportunity to understand vulnerable groups such as the homeless and to provide the necessary support needed (Stanley, 2013). Increasing the exposures to these groups of people in the society will strengthen the advocacy towards helping them. Outreach services are likewise warranted. Groups of health care workers and professionals are working together towards providing assistance, health care and support to those individuals needing it. The help being offered extend to providing legal assistance, health services, job opportunities and housing- focusing not just on the short term support but as well as long term. Services integration where the homeless population can have easy access to the health services are being enhanced as well.

Potential Environmental Hazards

It cannot be denied that living on the streets increases the risk of the homeless population to get into accidents that can cause death. Hypothermia during cold weather is common as well. Not to mention that they are constantly expose to violence and intimidation on the streets causing stress. With poor hygiene, skin diseases and injuries are rampant.

References

Power, R. & Hunter, G. (2001). Developing a strategy for community-based health promotion targeting homeless populations. Health Education Research, 16(5): 593-602.

Song, J., Bartels, D., Ratner, E., Alderton, L., Huson, B., Ahluwalia, J. (2007). Dying on the streets: Homeless person’s concerns and desires about end of life care. Society of General Internal Medicine, 22: 435-441.

Stanley, M.J. (2013). Teaching about vulnerable populations: Nursing students experience in a homeless center. Journal of Nursing Education, 52(10): 585-588.