Care and Support for Vulnerable Groups and Individuals (Essay Sample)

Care and Support for Vulnerable Groups and Individuals
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Care and Support for Vulnerable Groups and Individuals
Introduction
An in-depth look at ‘Vulnerability’ as a term draws the thought of a situation whereby people or someone is susceptible or exposed to the risk of actual or potential harm because of inaccessibility of needed resources to well deal with specific challenges of life. Vulnerability manifests in several different groups of people and even in individuals. Focus for care of such people varies in aspects relating to the group or person in need, like health and human rights issues for example (Health Affairs. 2014). It is often a result of physical, psychological, social or economical incapacities of people. It can also be factor of general developmental issues and insufficient mechanisms of social networking. In addition, the physical, political or emotional environments people find themselves in have a great impact on Vulnerability as a problem (Windle, et al. 2008).
Many young people are highly challenged in the quest to realize their potential as result of vulnerability. Such people require interventions orchestrated at individual or communal level to curb the effects of vulnerability on their lives (Age Concern and Help the Aged. 2009). It is true that the level of vulnerability differ from group to group of person-to-person depending on the prevailing circumstances that may be external or internal in nature. The precedence given to vulnerable people in a given society is determined by its values and beliefs for the most part. Since it manifests at different levels, vulnerability necessitates implementation of varied policies (Dickens, et al. 2011).
Group of Vulnerable People
This paper focuses on a special kind of group of people affected by vulnerability; it evaluates the case of elderly people living with ‘Dementia’ as a disease. The elderly and infants form the two groups of people affected by age as a factor of vulnerability. For the elderly, their health aspects are mostly affected since their immune systems are relatively weaker and devolving at the same time (Burgener & Twigg, 2002). As such, they are highly vulnerable because of instances of exposure to pathogens and reduced psychological capabilities. For the elderly people living with Dementia, their case requires the care of healthcare professionals who fully understand their needs and characteristics that are special in nature.
It is a both a moral and obligatory responsibility for societies to serve and protect the elderly by use of planned efforts
Elderly people living with Dementia are specifically vulnerable since they are unable to keep a track of their affairs and so to protect themselves. They stand to be abused in varied societal settings be it at home, hospital or even nursing homes where they are meant to be catered for (Maslow & Ory, 2001). This calls for high professionalism and ethical concerns for caregivers assigned to these group of people. Acute memory problems, impaired thinking and personality instability characterize the Dementia diseases. It also causes dependency in affected people who mostly rely on caregivers, family members or other health workers. Determinants for the health and general well-being of such persons have gained emphasis over the past years. Even so, the needs and requirements of this group of people warrant attention on an individual level, they are emphasized with a treatment approach since prevention is complicated and the Dementia condition sets in as a progressive and dawdling process (Maslow & Ory, 2001).
The ‘Health Affairs’ organization makes periodic a publications focusing on vulnerability of health problems, among them is the case of old people living with dementia disease. It describes the scenarios of the uninsured, frail, elderly and homeless people as well. The publication also surveyed other special groups as if Native Americans and war veterans loving on low incomes and people affected and infected with HIV/AIDS (Health Affairs, 2014).
Interventions to meet the needs of Elderly people suffering from Dementia disease.
A most important aspect regarding intervention is that it requires the involvement of the larger community. Still, this process involves a number of accustomed programs and initiatives to support psychological and emotional well being of elderly people living with Dementia. Activities of public interests like carnivals, sports, libraries and museums in addition to outreach programs have proved to be tools of intervention for the ailing elderly people with far reaching impacts. (Warren, et al. 2001)
Within a given society, there exists caregiver who may either be of a formal or informal background. Care for people with the poverty vulnerability can be achieved through adaptation mechanisms of befriending, social group activities, mentoring and community navigators. Such elderly people can be adversely affected by social isolations by family members and friends (Dickens, et al. 2011.). Such vulnerability influences greatly on the quality of their lives and general wellbeing, increasing detrimental health problems and causing them to be in an unyielding and constant need for health services. To understand the process of offering care and support to vulnerable peoples correctly, a critical assessment of their needs is vital. Communal structures and incentives are required to facilitate intervention mechanisms to aid elderly people who suffer from Dementia. The intervention measures mostly aim to curb loneliness and social isolation, which bring about depression. They ought to be planned based on strong relationships between caregivers and the ailing elderly as well as tendencies of partnerships among the relevant organizations to ensure services initiated are successful (Warren, et al. 2001). Even so, stakeholders ought to focus of researched aspects that have proved to be effective and viable in order to implement Community Navigator interventions, which are useful in the identification of affected persons that socially isolated, depressed and lonely.
Befriending is undoubtedly the most important intervention tool for the elderly who suffer from dementia, it has been described as a method which involves introducing the ailing person (or user) to another person or people for purposes of achieving social support via development of a reassuring relationship over a period of time (Mead, et al. 2010). Nevertheless, ways in which this intervention technique is conducted differ from setting to setting although it mostly employs the use of volunteers or paid workers (visiting the user in their home) on regular basis. Today, however, other forms of befriending like group befriending or gatherings and making of scheduled phone calls are also in use (Mead, et al. 2010). In addition, a single user can have a range of befrienders with each one having a separate role in aiding the user achieve a more desired mental state.
Same still, the ultimate purpose of befriending remains characterized by creation of companionship and so it might involve normal friendly duties like running errands and offering transport for the user. Community navigators also known as ‘Way finders’ refer to a set of self-driven individuals who volunteer to provide emotional and social support to users that can be described as ‘difficult’- people who are ‘hard-to-reach’. They step in for the society and public healthcare services with an honest urge to help. They mostly visit the frail elderly at home for face-to-face interaction to discuss issues relevant to the users’ conditions. However, in cases where the user or client is less frail, making of regular telephone calls to check on them and or conveying written information is usually the norm (Bowers, et al. 2006).
More often than not, Interventions involving group activity mostly aim to expand the social scopes of clients or users; they involve gatherings such as lunch clubs for example (Cattan et al. 2005). Albeit, it is important to note that the range of activities involved are unlimited and are determined with the discretion of interventionists (Findlay, 2003). The nature of group activities however varies with the needs of specific groups, which may range from normal social activities to creation of independence or self-efficacy. The former (need) can be met in an open group while the latter is for a specific group that ought to be restricted for purposes of safety and sharing among members.
Mentoring as a form of intervention focuses on achieving set individual goals by the client of user; it involves a unique kind of objective relationship between a volunteer and a client. It is mostly a periodic or short-term kind of intervention method, which calls for equipping the clients with required skills and or abilities to facilitate their further sustainment of change subsequent to withdrawal of the intervention process (Bowers, et al. 2006). Similar to the other stated methods of interventions, mentors are mostly members of the community or volunteers per say.
More likely than not, the patients are likely to improve psychologically by means of the intervention mechanisms indicated above. If that is the case, they portray shows of satisfaction and improvement by enhanced social interactions and community activities participation and involvement. In some cases, the affected elderly people have exhibited interest in hobbies and other interesting pass-time activities (Dickens, et al. 2011).
Multi-agency and Inter-professional services available to the elderly suffering from the Dementia Vulnerability
Nursing homes and specialized hospitals offer inter-professional services to the elderly suffering from dementia in the society (Snowden M, 2003). As a...