A vulnerable population can be defined as a group of individuals who are unable to anticipate, cope, resist, or recover from a disaster. Such groups include immigrants, uninsured individuals, and the poor who are at the high risk of developing health-related issues. Examples of vulnerable populations are the chronically ill and the disabled, the homeless or low income earners, the elderly, people who live at certain geographical communities, and LGBT population. The selected vulnerable population for this paper is the elderly
The growth of the elderly in the United States has continued to increase as the life expectancy increases. It is estimated that in 2014, 46.3 million of the population was the elderly adults above 65 years of age. The elderly people are at a higher risk of having chronic illnesses such as heart diseases, cancer, stroke, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s disease. These diseases can lower the quality of life the elderly live in and is the leading cause of death to this population. The population is considered as vulnerable because, in every five elderly adults, three of them have chronic illnesses.
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The elderly in a population are faced with some challenges that make their lives difficult. The climate affects them in different ways since they have a low immune system. They are more likely to have short illnesses such as flu or allergic reactions to the weather. Often, they will also be at risk of having numerous medical conditions affecting their mortality rate.
All the elderly should be in a position to receive the care that has been recommended for them such as preventive care. The United States government has put some measures in place that reduce and eliminate disparities in healthcare more so for vulnerable populations. Caregivers are now able to provide assistance to the elderly in the course their daily activities. Nursing advocacy such as home care, adult day care, and transportation would be beneficial for the elderly.
References
Stevens, G. D., & Shi, L.(2013). Vulnerable populations in the United States . San Francisco, Calif: Jossey-Bass.
