are present in most minority populations, creates a perfect storm of inadequate care for these groups of individuals, compared to their white, non-Hispanic counterparts. Minority status and financial status by themselves result in more poor healthcare, add a general practitioner with no specific knowledge about aging to the mix this group of individuals are more likely to have devastating experiences with the healthcare system.
(F) Availability
Access to specialized physicians, geriatricians, is the major area of availability explore. The Geriatrics Workforce Policy Studies Center collected data and predicted numbers from the years 2000 to 2050. The predict that there will be a little over 7,000 geriatricians in the United States in 2050, that
…show more content…
These individuals must rely on the physician to know what is best for their loved one. The Institute of Medicine (2008) actually makes a recommendation that funding be made available for training these informal support providers. Center for Health force Studies and Johnson et al., (as cited in Instituted of Medicine) acknowledge that newer generations of individuals enter into older adulthood the informal caregiver option will diminish due to an increase in single status older adults who often have fewer children. This, once again, emphasizes the need for an exterior support structure to be in place, from both a medical and social work …show more content…
Adams et al., (2002) pointed out that one of the greatest challenges faced is related to the complex needs patients related to emotional and social challenges. They share that all doctors, at some point in an interview, stated that there was “at least one situation where an elderly patient’s medical needs overlapped with psychosocial and/or administrative difficulties” (p. 840). The authors go on to explain that physicians acknowledge that resources in the community were generally subpar. The doctors also reported that arranging in home care and other community services was difficult because these avenues were best navigated by social workers (Adams et al., 2002). Placing social workers within the physician’s office could be a simple way to address the holistic needs of the aging patients who are treated. Herzog, Gaertner, Scheidt-Nave & Holzhausen (2015) propose that physicians’ offices would be better served to develop an “interprofessional primary care network” (p. 9). This recommendation suggests that having the social worker housed in the doctor’s office would help bridge the gap between professional services. When aske specifically about embedding social workers in the offices of physicians who work with older adults, Dr. Carron agreed that this could be a hugely beneficial asset and
The challenge America now faces is the number of people reaching retirement will double in number by 2030, and the U.S. population will increase almost 20 percent ("Our Aging Nation," 2015). The goal is for the elderly to maintain and live with independence and dignity, as well as, provide a wide range of professional health and social service expertise, home care, and residential support and services that will be needed ("Our Aging Nation," 2015). Since the number of caregivers needed for this population will not be able to meet the demands other resolutions are considered necessary.
In the U.S, one in four will be aged 60 years and older by 2050 (U.S. Census Bureau). This represents an overwhelming number of people who will either be in the caretaker role or be the ROC. Like today, most of the care will be provided by informal unpaid caregivers. The number of informal unpaid caregivers is expected to rise from 20 million in 2000 to 37 million in 2050 (Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation [ASPE], 2003). Because of the burden of care giving, many caregivers will experience depression, poor health and quality of life (Etters, Goodall, & Harrison, 2008). Their well-being is an important public health concern.
Taking care of the individuals that are getting older takes many different needs. Most of these needs cannot be given from the help of a family. This causes the need of having to put your love one into a home and causing for the worry of how they will be treated. It is important for the family and also the soon to be client to feel at home in their new environment. This has been an issue with the care being provided for each individual, which has lead to the need of making sure individuals have their own health care plan.
Medical advance and improved technology providing all Americans more healthier and long lives more than ever before .In contrast racial and ethnic minorities experience significant number of health disparities .The major factors of these minority group health disparities are income, education, and work status, as well as poor housing,
In addition, Hispanics, Blacks, and some Asian are less likely than non-Hispanic Whites to have a high school education or better healthcare. Some Differences in quality of care this groups have in common: Blacks received worse care than Whites for 41% of quality measures. Hispanics received worse care than non-Hispanic Whites for 39% of measures. Poor people received worse care than high-income people for 47% of measures. Inequalities in access are also common, especially among Hispanics and poor people: Blacks had worse access to care than Whites for 32% of access measures. Asians had worse access to care than Whites for 17% of access measures. Hispanics had worse access to care than non-Hispanic Whites for 63% of access measures. Poor people had worse access to care than high-income people for 89% of access
Even when access-associated factors, such as insurance and income are considered, minorities continue to have higher rates of disease with shorter life expectancy. They tend to have a poorer quality of health care than non-minorities, increasing the demand and importance of culturally competent health care in the United States. The ability of the healthcare provider to communicate with his or her patient's aides in discouraging barriers to accessing healthcare.
Lack of insurance coverage. Without health insurance, patients are more likely to postpone medical care, more likely to go without needed medical care, and more likely to go without prescription medicines. Minority groups in the United States lack insurance coverage at higher rates than whites.
“Minorities were referred less for cardiac cath, received less pain medication for fractures, received less surgical treatment of lung cancer, received fewer referrals for renal transplant, received fewer referrals for congestive heart failure and pneumonia, and received fewer major procedures for myocardial infarct (in the elderly) (Thomas, 2014, p. 7495).”
The Institute of Medicine (IOM) defines health care disparities as the “difference in the quality of care received by minorities and non-minorities who have equal access to care.” Health care disparities can be affected by how
Heise says that with this large number of elderly taking up the population there will be a shortage of doctors due to the idea that society has done a poor job of valuing the elderly. She says that negative or neutral attitudes towards the elderly are common in this youth oriented society because the youth of today lack interest and caring of other individuals including the elderly (Heise et al). This type of attitude prevents the care that is needed for those who will take care of people as doctors in the United States; therefore, the second cause of the doctor shortage is in fact lack of care. In fact according to a study because of the lack of interest in one year only 75 residents entered the geriatrics field. The study shows that if this rate continues the number of needed specialist in geriatrics will rise to approximately 1,200 per year (Fried). The absence of caring in Millennials and Zers will ultimately create a gap in the care system which will be nearly impossible to recover.
The CDC report shows that non-Hispanic white persons who were living in poor conditions were unable to go to work due to health issues. It is stated that it was twice as much as the Hispanic population. Moreover, it was reported that white people experienced greater incidents of adverse medical consultancy than the Hispanic persons. Statistics show that the numbers are 129 and 82 (out of thousand) respectively. However, the figures for health insurance in case of Hispanic people are not satisfactory. Around 32% of Hispanic population, who lie in the age bracket of less than 65, is not medically insured. (Cdc.gov, 2015)
You mention one of the most important issues affecting the United States health care system and It is one related to racial groups. I believe that Hispanic is one of the racial group suffering from an inadequate access to health care and preventive care. Latinos are exposed to numerous lifestyle features that affect negatively their health behaviors, besides they are subject to occupational hazards and unfavorable residential-environmental conditions throughout their life . Definitely, Latino population health is not static and is constantly influenced by demography, diseases , and social issues. Demographically the Latino population is increasing due to immigration and fertility. According
The Demographics of the United States are rapidly changing, with recent years showing a surge in various minority populations. According to the U.S. Census Bureau in 2001, the White population grew by only 9% while the African American population increased by 28%, the Native American population by 55%, the Hispanic population by 122%, and the Asian population by an astounding 190%. While this seemingly benevolent trend of minority growth appears innocuous to the realm of healthcare, further inspection suggests otherwise. In general, research gathered over the last half century suggests that minorities receive worse quality of care in the United States healthcare system when compared to their Caucasian counterparts. For
In the last 100 years, the American population of 65 years or older people has increased eleven times. The 2030 estimates project that 22.3 percent of the population (80 million) will be 65 or older. (Bookman & Kimbrel, 2011). Basically, the majority of the over 65 population is healthier and is living longer. However, people of color have suffered through racial suppression in this country. Many of them enter old age after a lifetime of struggle that has not allowed them to save for retirement and where, because they have not had access to decent health care, they are in poor health. (Bookman & Kimbrel, 2011). Medicare does not cover all of the care the elderly may need, especially those with chronic conditions.
Medical social workers collaborate with other human service workers to help severely ill patients, suffering from physical and psychological issues. Throughout the many challenges of patients, medical social workers and other professionals meet the common and severe needs of people with physical and mental illnesses. Andrews, Darnell, McBride, & Gehlert (2013) state “Social workers are familiar with the complex and overlapping systems that must be negotiated to ensure that the social, psychological and economic needs of individuals and groups are addressed in a way that underscores optimal health” (p. 67). Once the patient discuss their core issues with the medical social worker and other medical staff members at the hospital, physicians, nurses, and medical social workers can give patients ' positive feedback the concerns their health and well-being. Medical social workers interact with each other for the patient’s safety.