Vulnerable Populations in the United States

Vulnerable Populations in the United States

Vulnerable populations experience political, social, environmental, and economic challenges that limit and hinder them from accessing quality and timely services such as healthcare. Vulnerable people include women, the elderly, children, the disabled, the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ+) population, and low-income individuals. Research shows that sixty-one million adults in the United States live with a disability, with a majority living in the South. The adults are categorized into each functional disability. In addition, 13.7% have a mobility disability, 3.65% have a self-care disability, 5.9% have a hearing disability, 10.8% have a cognitive disability, 4.6% have a vision disability, and 6.8% have an independent living disability (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2018).

People living with disability are considered vulnerable since they face barriers to accessing basic needs. People living with disability are at a higher risk of diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and obesity. Also, people living with disability experience challenges in accessing healthcare. One in three adults between eighteen and forty-four years living with disabilities do not access the required healthcare needs due to financial difficulties. One in three adults between 18 and 44 years living with disabilities do not have a healthcare provider. One in four adults between eighteen and 44 years living with disabilities do not have a routine yearly checkup (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2018).

People with a disability cannot advocate for themselves due to exclusion in decision-making tables and low self-esteem. Ethics states the right to quality healthcare regardless of race, gender, or socioeconomic status and ensures people living with disability are offered quality healthcare without discrimination. Nursing advocacy ensures every nurse and other healthcare worker follows the ethics code of conduct without prejudice. Nursing advocacy recognizes the challenges faced by people living with disability and implements changes to mitigate these challenges. Advocacy is also beneficial as it ensures that every hospital and healthcare facility is easily accessible to people with disabilities. Nurses refer disabled people to support groups that offer psychological and financial support (Mert & Köşgeroğlu, 2022).

References

Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. (2018, August 16). CDC: 1 in 4 US adults live with a disability.

Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved November 8, 2022, from https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2018/p0816-disability.html.

Mert, S., & Köşgeroğlu, N. (2022). Meeting the care needs of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families through the Model of Nursing Based on Activities of Living. Journal of intellectual disabilities: JOID, 26(3), 687–703. https://doi.org/10.1177/17446295211010023.

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Vulnerable Populations in the United States

Compare vulnerable populations. Describe an example of one of these groups in the United States or from another country. Explain why the population is designated as “vulnerable.” Include the number of individuals belonging to this group and the specific challenges or issues involved. Discuss why these populations cannot advocate for themselves, the ethical issues that must be considered when working with these groups, and how nursing advocacy would be beneficial.