Analysis of the Oceanside city in San Diego
From the analysis of the Oceanside city in San Diego, it is evident that there are vulnerable populations regarding healthcare concerns. From the study, it is emerging that Oceanside has modern medical facilities. However, the community has significant chronic healthcare conditions, mainly stemming from the high elderly population in the region. Other vulnerable people are homeless because of the high cost of housing and living in California. Due to homelessness, these people live on the streets where they indulge in drug and alcohol abuse risking their health.
Moreover, the homeless are also afflicted by mental illnesses stemming from their joblessness and even homelessness. The young girls are also vulnerable due to the high rates of pregnancy. The high rates of pregnancy are related to the high tourist activity in the region. The core aim of this paper is a literature review. It will examine the various healthcare issues among the vulnerable populations above by using evidence to show what experts in multiple fields say are the resources, interventions, and recommendations that effectively address the same healthcare concerns in the community.
The first vulnerable healthcare group in the Oceanside region about healthcare are the elderly who suffer from chronic medical conditions. Chronic illnesses are a significant concern among this population, considering the substantial financial and physical toll the disease has on the patients, family, and communities. The chronic diseases among the elderly in Oceanside are compounded by the fact that there has been emerging reports that they suffer severe abuse from members of their families including children, spouses and other relatives due to chronic illnesses, mental impairment, financial and physical dependence (Gatchel, Choi &Hanna, 2018). Considering the chronic diseases facing the elderly and the underlying factors complicating the issue, urgent interventions are necessary to ensure improved healthcare outcomes.
One of the best intervention is at the community level. One of the interventions to help these patients is improving physical activity levels. Recent research has revealed that chronic elderly patients require to engage in regular physical activity as it reduces their risk of cardiovascular diseases, some cancers, diabetes, and enhancing physical functioning (Gatchel, Choi & Hanna, 2018). The CDC’s guide for community services gives various recommendations aiming at increasing physical activities among the elderly. They include social support programs for physical activity in the community setting, for example, walking groups, counseling sessions, and exercise buddy systems (Gachel, Choi &Hanna, 2018). Moreover, it also advocates for evidence-based behavioral strategies to modify behavior, rewarding positive behavior changes, and adopting of structured problem-solving skills. Further, adopting physical activity programs adaptable to the individual needs of elderly persons can be useful for elderly patients with chronic illnesses.
Diet is another intervention that can improve the health outcomes of elderly patients with chronic conditions (Gatchel, Choi &Hanna, 2018). Patients with these conditions are encouraged to take diets rich in fruits, complex carbohydrates, and vegetables, increasing water uptake and lowering salt consumption. However, it’s also emerging that some elderly patients do not have sufficient nutrition knowledge, and it is imperative to educate them on the importance of healthy nutrition as they compact their various chronic illnesses. Patients with these conditions are encouraged to take diets rich in fruits, complex carbohydrates and vegetables, increasing water uptake, and lowering consumption of salt (Gatchel, Choi & Hanna, 2018). However, it’s also emerging that some elderly patients do not have sufficient nutrition knowledge, and it is imperative to educate them on the importance of healthy nutrition as they combat their various chronic illnesses. Additionally, a team care approach to care delivery is recommended when dealing with these patients, as well as improving communication between care providers and targeted techniques to prevent complications.
The second healthcare concern arising from the Oceanside region is regarding the high rates of pregnancies among girls. The pregnancies in the area are attributed to the increasing tourism activities in the city. To reduce the high number of pregnancies among girls, various interventions are necessary. One of the best interventions is making sex education more positive with less emphasis on anatomy and scare tactics; rather, it should focus more on negotiation skills in sexual relationships and communication (Oringanje et al., 2016). Besides, the details of sexual health clinics should be advertised in the areas where the adolescent girls frequently visit hence interacting with the tourists.