Discussion | Nursing homework help

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Health Promotion - Healthy Aging

Social determinants of health are non-medical conditions that exist where humans live, work, and play that affect their healthcare outcomes. In this case, these conditions affect healthy Aging as they influence the individual's access to medical resource and services or good nutrition that ensure healthy Aging. Those living in poverty are relatively disadvantaged because their ability to age healthily is compromised. For example, poverty negatively impacts economic stability as a social determinant of health, reducing purchasing power to nutritious foods important for healthy Aging. Therefore, social determinants of health, including unemployment, access to educational resources, and food security, are negatively affected among impoverished older adults.

Poverty has immense impacts on the health of the elderly, worsened by their unemployment status. Most older adults are retired, meaning they have limited income, which impacts healthy Aging through reduced financial capacity. Jacobs & Stessman (2022) explain that most elderly adults have chronic conditions or ailments that need constant monitoring, medications, and nutritious foods. However, living in poverty and being unemployed makes it challenging for them to acquire the said requirements for healthy Aging. Therefore, poverty further limits the financial capabilities of already financially strained people to acquire the necessary resources to age healthily.

Limited accessibility as a social determinant of health could be associated with various reasons, including poverty, which negatively impacts health outcomes. Healthy People 2030 explain that limited accessibility to educational resources, especially information impacts an individual's decision-making process. In this case, they are uninformed when making decisions about their health, including the appropriate physical activity depending on their age or to live a sedentary life because of their age. Such information is essential for healthy Aging, but the elderly poor cannot access such because of financial strains to go for checkups often or see health experts on managing their health conditions or physical activities at their age. Therefore, accessibility to educational resources as a social determinant of health is made worse for older adults living in poverty.

Food insecurity is common among the elderly. According to Feeding America, 1 in 14 seniors are food insecure (Feeding America, 2023), increasing their risk for diabetes and other health conditions linked to the quality and quantity of food one consumes, including malnutrition. This is because food-insecure seniors consume fewer calories and nutrients, and their dietary quality is compromised; thus, their bodies lack strength, which is an important part of healthy Aging. Food insecurity is "a lack of consistent access to enough food to live an active and healthy life" (Pooler et al., 2019). Seniors living in poverty experience intensified food insecurity because of their limited purchasing power. The elderly depend on their money to secure enough nutritious food because they cannot farm or work for their own food; thus, poverty contributes to food insecurity. Further, poverty puts the elderly in a challenging position of choosing food or medications, especially in diet-sensitive food conditions like diabetes, thus increasing morbidity risk either from starvation or non-adherence to medication. Therefore, poverty intensifies food insecurity as a social determinant of health, negatively affecting the process of healthy Aging.

References

Feeding America. (2023). The State of Senior Hunger in 2021. https://www.feedingamerica.org/research/state-senior-hunger

Jacobs, J., & Stessman, J. (2022). Objective and subjective poverty among older people and its association with health, function, and mortality. Innovation in Aging, 6(Supplement_1), pp. 657–658. https://academic.oup.com/innovateage/article-pdf/6/Supplement_1/657/48312224/igac059.2426.pdf

Pooler, J. A., Hartline-Grafton, H., DeBor, M., Sudore, R. L., & Seligman, H. K. (2019). Food insecurity: a key social determinant of health for older adults. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 67(3), 421. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6816803/

Post2.docx

Old age is often characterized by depreciating health and general well-being. For instance, the majority of people affected with chronic infections are usually older individuals due to their reduced immunity and limited activities (Singu et al., 2020). Even though the social determinants of health apply to everyone older individuals are the ones that are greatly impacted by these social determinants especially when they are from lower economic backgrounds. Therefore, this paper will discuss how social determinants of health for senior citizens are influenced by those living in poverty.

The first social determinant is access to quality healthcare. Since senior individuals are prone to be victims of chronic infections and conditions related to accidents, they require frequent and quality healthcare intervention or services to lead a comfortable life. However, medical services are usually expensive in many nations including the United States of America which is among the developed nations with no universal care (Hill-Briggs et al., 2020). Therefore, when older adults are living in poverty they might not have enough disposable income to take care of their medical bills and frequent consultations hence lowering their levels of comfort. Quality care is very essential, especially for older individuals that are why many nations have enacted policies to ensure that older adults living in poverty can easily access these services. For instance, in the United States of America, the Affordable Care Act was enacted to ensure that older adults suffering from certain chronic infections can easily access medical care.

Nutrition or food security is also another social determinant that can significantly influence the well-being of older adults. Food is a very essential component of life, and everyone needs food for the normal metabolic functioning of the body (Hill-Briggs et al., 2020). Older adults, especially those suffering from chronic infections such as diabetes may require foods that are very nutritious and healthy as opposed to junk food. However, a healthy and nutritious diet might be more expensive than a non-nutritious diet hence forcing those older adults living in poverty to consume unhealthy foods that might have adverse effects on their health. Additionally, older adults living in extreme poverty might lack the financial capability to access daily or regular meals, and this can have adverse effects on their already depreciating health.

Social interactions and belonging is also another essential social determinant for the healthy well-being of older adults. Everyone needs a social support system and a sense of belonging to lead a healthy life. Older adults, especially those living in poverty might lack the required social support to enable them to lead a healthy life due to several reasons. For instance, senior adults living in poverty might be abandoned by their families and forced to reside in homes. This might have an adverse impact on their psychological well-being (Singu et al., 2020). Additionally, since senior citizens engage in fewer activities they may lack an opportunity to create a social connection with others. For those older individuals living in poverty, this limited physical activity might be heightened because they might be unable to pay for services such as a caregiver, gym membership, or join a club to help create a social connection.

References

Hill-Briggs, F., Adler, N. E., Berkowitz, S. A., Chin, M. H., Gary-Webb, T. L., Navas-Acien, A., ... & Haire-Joshu, D. (2021). Social determinants of health and diabetes: a scientific review. Diabetes care, 44(1), 258.

Singu, S., Acharya, A., Challagundla, K., & Byrareddy, S. N. (2020). Impact of social determinants of health on the emerging COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. Frontiers in public health, 8, 406.

Post1.docx

Health Promotion - Healthy Aging

Social determinants of health are non-medical conditions that exist where humans live, work, and play that affect their healthcare outcomes. In this case, these conditions affect healthy Aging as they influence the individual's access to medical resource and services or good nutrition that ensure healthy Aging. Those living in poverty are relatively disadvantaged because their ability to age healthily is compromised. For example, poverty negatively impacts economic stability as a social determinant of health, reducing purchasing power to nutritious foods important for healthy Aging. Therefore, social determinants of health, including unemployment, access to educational resources, and food security, are negatively affected among impoverished older adults.

Poverty has immense impacts on the health of the elderly, worsened by their unemployment status. Most older adults are retired, meaning they have limited income, which impacts healthy Aging through reduced financial capacity. Jacobs & Stessman (2022) explain that most elderly adults have chronic conditions or ailments that need constant monitoring, medications, and nutritious foods. However, living in poverty and being unemployed makes it challenging for them to acquire the said requirements for healthy Aging. Therefore, poverty further limits the financial capabilities of already financially strained people to acquire the necessary resources to age healthily.

Limited accessibility as a social determinant of health could be associated with various reasons, including poverty, which negatively impacts health outcomes. Healthy People 2030 explain that limited accessibility to educational resources, especially information impacts an individual's decision-making process. In this case, they are uninformed when making decisions about their health, including the appropriate physical activity depending on their age or to live a sedentary life because of their age. Such information is essential for healthy Aging, but the elderly poor cannot access such because of financial strains to go for checkups often or see health experts on managing their health conditions or physical activities at their age. Therefore, accessibility to educational resources as a social determinant of health is made worse for older adults living in poverty.

Food insecurity is common among the elderly. According to Feeding America, 1 in 14 seniors are food insecure (Feeding America, 2023), increasing their risk for diabetes and other health conditions linked to the quality and quantity of food one consumes, including malnutrition. This is because food-insecure seniors consume fewer calories and nutrients, and their dietary quality is compromised; thus, their bodies lack strength, which is an important part of healthy Aging. Food insecurity is "a lack of consistent access to enough food to live an active and healthy life" (Pooler et al., 2019). Seniors living in poverty experience intensified food insecurity because of their limited purchasing power. The elderly depend on their money to secure enough nutritious food because they cannot farm or work for their own food; thus, poverty contributes to food insecurity. Further, poverty puts the elderly in a challenging position of choosing food or medications, especially in diet-sensitive food conditions like diabetes, thus increasing morbidity risk either from starvation or non-adherence to medication. Therefore, poverty intensifies food insecurity as a social determinant of health, negatively affecting the process of healthy Aging.

References

Feeding America. (2023). The State of Senior Hunger in 2021. https://www.feedingamerica.org/research/state-senior-hunger

Jacobs, J., & Stessman, J. (2022). Objective and subjective poverty among older people and its association with health, function, and mortality. Innovation in Aging, 6(Supplement_1), pp. 657–658. https://academic.oup.com/innovateage/article-pdf/6/Supplement_1/657/48312224/igac059.2426.pdf

Pooler, J. A., Hartline-Grafton, H., DeBor, M., Sudore, R. L., & Seligman, H. K. (2019). Food insecurity: a key social determinant of health for older adults. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 67(3), 421. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6816803/

Post2.docx

Old age is often characterized by depreciating health and general well-being. For instance, the majority of people affected with chronic infections are usually older individuals due to their reduced immunity and limited activities (Singu et al., 2020). Even though the social determinants of health apply to everyone older individuals are the ones that are greatly impacted by these social determinants especially when they are from lower economic backgrounds. Therefore, this paper will discuss how social determinants of health for senior citizens are influenced by those living in poverty.

The first social determinant is access to quality healthcare. Since senior individuals are prone to be victims of chronic infections and conditions related to accidents, they require frequent and quality healthcare intervention or services to lead a comfortable life. However, medical services are usually expensive in many nations including the United States of America which is among the developed nations with no universal care (Hill-Briggs et al., 2020). Therefore, when older adults are living in poverty they might not have enough disposable income to take care of their medical bills and frequent consultations hence lowering their levels of comfort. Quality care is very essential, especially for older individuals that are why many nations have enacted policies to ensure that older adults living in poverty can easily access these services. For instance, in the United States of America, the Affordable Care Act was enacted to ensure that older adults suffering from certain chronic infections can easily access medical care.

Nutrition or food security is also another social determinant that can significantly influence the well-being of older adults. Food is a very essential component of life, and everyone needs food for the normal metabolic functioning of the body (Hill-Briggs et al., 2020). Older adults, especially those suffering from chronic infections such as diabetes may require foods that are very nutritious and healthy as opposed to junk food. However, a healthy and nutritious diet might be more expensive than a non-nutritious diet hence forcing those older adults living in poverty to consume unhealthy foods that might have adverse effects on their health. Additionally, older adults living in extreme poverty might lack the financial capability to access daily or regular meals, and this can have adverse effects on their already depreciating health.

Social interactions and belonging is also another essential social determinant for the healthy well-being of older adults. Everyone needs a social support system and a sense of belonging to lead a healthy life. Older adults, especially those living in poverty might lack the required social support to enable them to lead a healthy life due to several reasons. For instance, senior adults living in poverty might be abandoned by their families and forced to reside in homes. This might have an adverse impact on their psychological well-being (Singu et al., 2020). Additionally, since senior citizens engage in fewer activities they may lack an opportunity to create a social connection with others. For those older individuals living in poverty, this limited physical activity might be heightened because they might be unable to pay for services such as a caregiver, gym membership, or join a club to help create a social connection.

References

Hill-Briggs, F., Adler, N. E., Berkowitz, S. A., Chin, M. H., Gary-Webb, T. L., Navas-Acien, A., ... & Haire-Joshu, D. (2021). Social determinants of health and diabetes: a scientific review. Diabetes care, 44(1), 258.

Singu, S., Acharya, A., Challagundla, K., & Byrareddy, S. N. (2020). Impact of social determinants of health on the emerging COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. Frontiers in public health, 8, 406.

Post1.docx

Health Promotion - Healthy Aging

Social determinants of health are non-medical conditions that exist where humans live, work, and play that affect their healthcare outcomes. In this case, these conditions affect healthy Aging as they influence the individual's access to medical resource and services or good nutrition that ensure healthy Aging. Those living in poverty are relatively disadvantaged because their ability to age healthily is compromised. For example, poverty negatively impacts economic stability as a social determinant of health, reducing purchasing power to nutritious foods important for healthy Aging. Therefore, social determinants of health, including unemployment, access to educational resources, and food security, are negatively affected among impoverished older adults.

Poverty has immense impacts on the health of the elderly, worsened by their unemployment status. Most older adults are retired, meaning they have limited income, which impacts healthy Aging through reduced financial capacity. Jacobs & Stessman (2022) explain that most elderly adults have chronic conditions or ailments that need constant monitoring, medications, and nutritious foods. However, living in poverty and being unemployed makes it challenging for them to acquire the said requirements for healthy Aging. Therefore, poverty further limits the financial capabilities of already financially strained people to acquire the necessary resources to age healthily.

Limited accessibility as a social determinant of health could be associated with various reasons, including poverty, which negatively impacts health outcomes. Healthy People 2030 explain that limited accessibility to educational resources, especially information impacts an individual's decision-making process. In this case, they are uninformed when making decisions about their health, including the appropriate physical activity depending on their age or to live a sedentary life because of their age. Such information is essential for healthy Aging, but the elderly poor cannot access such because of financial strains to go for checkups often or see health experts on managing their health conditions or physical activities at their age. Therefore, accessibility to educational resources as a social determinant of health is made worse for older adults living in poverty.

Food insecurity is common among the elderly. According to Feeding America, 1 in 14 seniors are food insecure (Feeding America, 2023), increasing their risk for diabetes and other health conditions linked to the quality and quantity of food one consumes, including malnutrition. This is because food-insecure seniors consume fewer calories and nutrients, and their dietary quality is compromised; thus, their bodies lack strength, which is an important part of healthy Aging. Food insecurity is "a lack of consistent access to enough food to live an active and healthy life" (Pooler et al., 2019). Seniors living in poverty experience intensified food insecurity because of their limited purchasing power. The elderly depend on their money to secure enough nutritious food because they cannot farm or work for their own food; thus, poverty contributes to food insecurity. Further, poverty puts the elderly in a challenging position of choosing food or medications, especially in diet-sensitive food conditions like diabetes, thus increasing morbidity risk either from starvation or non-adherence to medication. Therefore, poverty intensifies food insecurity as a social determinant of health, negatively affecting the process of healthy Aging.

References

Feeding America. (2023). The State of Senior Hunger in 2021. https://www.feedingamerica.org/research/state-senior-hunger

Jacobs, J., & Stessman, J. (2022). Objective and subjective poverty among older people and its association with health, function, and mortality. Innovation in Aging, 6(Supplement_1), pp. 657–658. https://academic.oup.com/innovateage/article-pdf/6/Supplement_1/657/48312224/igac059.2426.pdf

Pooler, J. A., Hartline-Grafton, H., DeBor, M., Sudore, R. L., & Seligman, H. K. (2019). Food insecurity: a key social determinant of health for older adults. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 67(3), 421. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6816803/