Essay On Elderly Population

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Vulnerable Populations in the United States Evidenced by statistics, vulnerable populations are, indeed, growing in the United States, especially the elderly population. The United States Census Bureau predicts that elderly populations aged between 65 and over will proliferate close to 83.7 million by 2050 (Ortman, Velkoff & Hogan, 2014). Ortman and colleagues (2014) also noted that the U.S. population is becoming more diverse. Consequently, this aging population will be more racially and ethnically manifold. These elderly will need long-term care, which might be a challenge due to the limited number of long-term care facilities. However, race and ethnicity may not be a primary disparity in access to long-term care. Those who are unable to get the proper care most likely will run into challenges as they become homebound. Furthermore, increasing disability among the elderly population (Feng, Fennel, Tyler, Clark, & Mor, 2011) could limit access to care, such as limited physical mobility and lack of transportation that also hinders access to care. In addition, …show more content…

According to the National Alliance to Homelessness Report (2016) in January of 2015, 564,708 people were estimated to be homeless in the United States. What makes matters worse is that homeless individuals are quite difficult to locate and due to lack of a physical address. In addition, the overwhelming number of homeless populations throughout the United States have complex needs that take a combined effort, including financial needs. The major problem is that besides basic needs like shelter, reliable income, transportation, proper clothing, personal care, food, medical and dental care, this population also often suffers from various illnesses such as depression, mental illness, physical disability, HIV/AIDS, or other conditions (Shi & Stevens, 2010). The disparities listed create a cascade event and make the effort of helping more

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