Introduction
Vulnerable people are considered to be those facing difficulties in taking care of themselves in cases of harmful situations because of certain limitations that result from illness and age. In the city of Lufkin in Angelina County that is found in the eastern parts of Texas, the vulnerable population is considered to be the elderly women. It is the main problem that faces the city because they are not able to assist themselves in cases where there is an occurrence of a harmful situation. In addition, they are considered to be very fragile and there is the risk that in the case of an accident while driving, this group has a low chance of surviving and they are also prone to more injuries. Another finding that shows that the situation is a problem to the community is the fact that. The elderly women face a lot of risks while walking in impassable bridges and roads. In many cases, homeless people in the city of Lufkin live under bridges and thus pose a security concern to those who are not in a position to save themselves, especially those who are vulnerable like the elderly women. Evidently, having the vulnerable group in the community is a problem because of the existence of houses that are in poor condition. It means that in the event that the houses become dangerous, people in the group will not be in a position to save themselves.
As a home health nurse, it is vital to analyze the situation in the city as it related to the elderly women. Other responsibilities of a home health nurse in the city include providing treatment and medical care to a patient in their home. In addition, I have the responsibility of assessing the home environment of the patient to determine if any accommodations or changes are needed because of the medical needs of the patient.
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The main purpose of this presentation is to analyze the vulnerable group in the community and propose the best community health care intervention and evaluation plan.
Evidence Based Intervention
According to Lopez-Hartmann (2012), informal caregivers are considered to be a vital resource in the success of any community and in the survival of the elderly. From the study conducted, the best evidence based intervention for the elderly in the community is the provision of caregivers because it helps in reducing anger, depression, and burden (Lopez-Hartmann, 2012) . In addition, the intervention ensures that the group increases its knowledge, ability to cope, and gets social support.
More specifically, the intervention is good for the society because care givers appreciate the fact that caring for the elderly is a very delicate matter and they need proper care and special attention. Elderly women are often vulnerable to medication, safety, and abuse (Hughes, 2008) . The intervention is best fit for the community because in many cases caregivers listen to the feelings of their clients and provide the necessary counseling and thus, help in reducing the risk of depression. In addition, they are vital in informing the elderly women about healthful practices that relate to the everyday life without the presence of a nurse. In addition, the intervention is fit for the community because it makes sure that the vulnerable in the community get direct nursing care and measures activities that include monitoring vital signs.
Implementation of the intervention
The implementation of the intervention involves steps that are required in making sure that it maximizes its outcome. The implementation of the intervention would involve four steps the first one being pre-conditions that involve the identification of the need, the target population, and the suitability of the intervention ( Bridget, 2013) . The next step includes pre-implementation that involves packaging the intervention and community input. The third phase is an implementation that involves implementing the technique, training, and evaluation. Finally, the next step is an evaluation that involves preparing the technique for sustainability.
Actions that can be taken to accomplish the intervention
The actions that I would take as a community health nurse in accomplishing the intervention include learning the diagnosis of the patient that would help in understanding the problem and also determine how to plan ahead. The next step is talking with the care recipient concerning their wishes as it relates to their health care. It involves starting a conversation about the health care and finances in order to prepare for any emergencies. The third step is getting the whole family involves and discuss on what is needed. It includes the family members of those who need care and is an opportune time for every member to state what is needed, make plans for the care, and ask other people for assistance. The third step is locating community resources such as meal delivery like Meals on Wheels to help in giving relief and also offer the family of the patient respite. It is also vital for me to get training that is aimed at increasing my confidence and know-how. The final step is asking for help and support because in many cases, the responsibilities of caregiving get out of hand when the nurse becomes isolated and does not request support and help. The actions are based on the Public Health Wheel in terms of concentrating on the community. The intervention will concentrate on the elderly women who need the intervention. The intervention would take place in the homes of those receiving the care mainly because it is a safe environment and there is a high chance of getting positive outcome because the environment is familiar. The intervention would take place immediately when the family of the person who is being given the care request and would be during the day because it would involve house visits. The intervention would not be a one-time thing but will be continuous because elderly women need constant care.
To ensure its success, there is need to collaborate with other people in the community such as the physician’s office because it is expected that other aspects of the patient’s health might be affected such as the physical health of the patient can deteriorate and thus the patients might need medical attention. There will also need the collaboration with counselors because the elderly women might need mental attention because in most cases, the elderly get depressed as a result of being vulnerable in the society. Depression also results from feeling helpless and a burden to family members who are expected to constantly take care of them.
The level of prevention that caregiving tries to address is a primary level of intervention as indicated by Northouse (2012). Primary prevention aims at preventing the start of a disease with the aim of reducing any form of diseases. It is an intervention that is often applied before there is evidence of injury or disease. In this case, it is evident that the elderly are vulnerable in the community (Northouse, 2012) . The intervention aims at preventing the group from finding themselves in a risky situation such as finding themselves driving and causing accidents of getting depressed.
Proposed evaluation method
The best evaluation method for this technique is the application of questionnaire survey where the families of those involved in the intervention are provided with a question that aims at answering questions that related to the quality of the intervention. The positive outcome means that the intervention was effective ( Nichols, 2017) . The evaluation method is vital in making sure the success of the intervention and also helps in taking the necessary actions that are needed in ensuring its success. Another outcome that would be vital to track if the intervention works are analyzing if there is an improvement in the quality of life of the elderly individuals. The outcome would be measured as the intervention continues to make the necessary adjustments in cases where a positive outcome is not being seen ( Healthy People, 2017) .
Outcomes
The short-term impact on the community if there will be a success in the intervention is an improvement in the quality of life among people in the group. An improvement in their lives will also reflect in the lives of those taking care of them and they will be more productive. Long-term impact in the community is that the group will be able to sustain itself and live independent lives.
Summary
The main purpose of this presentation is to analyze the vulnerable group in the community and propose the best community health care intervention and evaluation plan. From the study conducted, the best evidence based intervention for the elderly in the community is the provision of caregivers because it helps in reducing anger, depression, and burden. The best outcome for this intervention is improving the lives of those being given the care and making sure that their lives are sustainable.
- References
Bridget Robson, D. C. (2013). Social And Economic Indicators . University of Otago.
Healthy People 2020. (2017). Environmental Health. HealthyPeople.gov . Retrieved August 10, 2017, from https://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topics-objectives/topic/environmental-health
Hughes, R., & United States. (2008). Patient Safety and Quality: An Evidence-Based Handbook for Nurses. Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.
Lopez-Hartmann, M., et. Al. (2012). The effect of caregiver support interventions for informal caregivers of community-dwelling frail elderly: a systematic review. Int J Integr Care , Pp. 1-4.
Nichols, M. (2017). Caring for Populations: Milestone 1: Community Windshield Survey Form. Chamberlain College of Nursing.
Northouse, L., et. Al. (2012). The Impact of Caregiving on the Psychological Well-Being of Family Caregivers and Cancer Patients. Seminars in Oncology Nursing , Pp. 236-245.
