Patients Dealing with Poverty Essay

Poverty affects almost half the world. Over three billion people live on less than $2.50 a day (Global Issues). The United States, one of the wealthiest nations in the world, accounts for almost 12% of these statistics. In addition to these people, another 50 million are â€Å"near poverty† level. Even more alarming, according to the 1999 Census Bureau, over 16% of all children in the United States live in poverty verse the recorded 12% of adults (Yahoo Health). I chose to write about people living with poverty because God has really placed the issue on my heart this year. Last May, my father lost his job and became homeless. I am happy to say he is now employed and looking for housing. After seeing the effects of poverty first hand, I have felt tremendously compelled to reach out to those in need. I have applied for an Episcopal Urban Intern Program through AmeriCorps and if I am accepted, I will be working with them starting in August. God has really blessed me with a heart of compassion and understanding, and I want to use that gift to serve others to the best of my ability. Poverty is a global issue that affects every corner of our world. There are an endless amount of people suffering in every county and many issues to be discussed. Because there are so many people affected worldwide, I am only going to focus on the effects in the United States for this essay. So, what is poverty? Poverty can be defined in several different ways. According to the US Census Bureau, poverty is measured in numbers. Any person living on a yearly income of $11,136 or under (add $2,820 for each additional person in the household) is considered to be in poverty (US Census 2010). However, the social definition of poverty is any person living with a lack of essential items such as food, clothing, water, and shelter (Think Quest). Minority racial and ethnic groups are much more likely to live in poverty. Also, poverty is much more prevalent in single, female-headed households (Yahoo Health). It is extremely important to be educated about the kinds of people living in poverty, especially if you are a healthcare worker, because the effects of their financial status greatly impact their well-being. Individuals living at or near poverty level suffer a variety of chronic ailments. They often have no health insurance so they rely on emergency rooms for care and often do not fill their prescriptions. They frequently postpone getting medical care due to lack of insurance and also have shorter life spans (Society of Teachers of Family Medicine). For every small decrease in income we see a significant decrease in health outcome. Another big concern of poverty-level individuals is that they are more likely to smoke and to live sedentary lifestyles (Hope Through Healing Hands). In a study done in year 2000, researchers found that more than one third of people living in poverty had a drug or alco hol problem. Also, more than half (56%) of those studied reported not having enough to eat at sometime in the last year (Society of Teachers of Family Medicine). Lack of nutrition, for any period of time, can cause detrimental effects on the body such as weight loss, bone deterioration, and even death (Merck Manuals). Mental health issues such as depression and anxiety were also very prevalent in this study of poverty-stricken people. Something very interesting to me about this study is that in response to interview questions about issues in daily life, personal health and/or access to health care services were the third most commonly cited concerns (employment and housing were the top two concerns). Among these health concerns, costs and health insurance coverage were the biggest issues raised. Nearly half of Americans whose incomes are below 150% of the poverty level are without insurance coverage. In contrast, only about 40% of those with incomes below 100% of the poverty level are without health insurance (Society of Teachers of Family Medicine). This is due to the target income range of government programs. Federal and state programs (such as Medicaid) help tremendously with insuring those at poverty level. However, there are many others considered the â€Å"working poor† who do not qualify for these programs. These people all too often have to choose between paying for meals and paying for health care. Those living in poverty that do have health insurance from government programs often have very limited coverage. Prescription medications and medical supplies (such as eyeglasses) are often not included. Healthcare professionals often mistake those in poverty, especially those between the 150% – 200% level range, as non-compliant patients (Society of Teachers of Family Medicine). Because people living in poverty often do not come in for preventative care, do not fill prescriptions, and fail to adhere to other recommendations, they can easily be mistaken for â€Å"bad patients.† It is a common misconception that they are ignorant to the importance of health care. It is imperative to understand that these individuals are doing the best they can with the finances and resources they have available. The main solution to health care problems those living in poverty face is a change to our health care system. Coverage needs to be available to all members of society for all health needs. As healthcare workers, we are not all called to be change agents in the world for this cause. However, we can educate ourselves to better understand poverty so we can deal effectively with those patients experiencing it. Americans almost always seem to be informed of poverty in under-developed countries. They also seem to be well-aware that poverty causes poor health. Still, many in the U.S. remain unaware that this problem exists in our country as well (Hope Through Healing Hands). Healthcare providers can communicate effectively with poverty-stricken individuals by showing a genuine desire to assist and serve them. Developing a sense of empathy, not sympathy, for the person shows that you care for them rather than feel bad for them. It is important to understand that these individuals’ sense of time occurs only in the present. They rarely think of the future or what effects their present actions might have on them later in life (TFC Association). They live for today because that is all they have. It is best to project kindness to these individuals, as with any group of people. Another very effective tool for helping those living in poverty is providing resources. Researching free or low-cost programs in your community and sharing them with these patients is a great way to help. Using appropriate humor is also a great way to lighten the mood and bring a smile to someone’s face that may be experiencing financial hardships (TFC Association). There are so many problems poverty brings upon an individual. Living with this burden can truly effect a person is so many ways. As a healthcare worker there is only so much we can do to assist people at these low-income levels. Although we can not provide a means for them financially or fix the living situation they are in, it is important to understand the impact we can have just by being compassionate. If you work in an office with ignorance to this issue, it is vital to inform those around you about the effects of poverty on health care. Before jumping to conclusions about a patient who is non-compliant, you may want to ask questions to find out if it is due to poverty. The key is to treat them with dignity and respect, regardless of their social status, and you really will make a difference. Works Cited 1. â€Å"Poverty Facts and Stats — Global Issues.† Global Issues : Social, Political, Economic and Environmental Issues That Affect Us All — Global Issues. Web. 24 Mar. 2011. . 2. â€Å"Poverty.† Yahoo! Health. Web. 24 Mar. 2011. . 3. â€Å"Poverty Data – Poverty Threshholds – U.S Census Bureau.† Census Bureau Home Page. Web. 24 Mar. 2011. . 4. â€Å"Finding Solutions to Poverty.† A Dollar a Day: What Is Poverty? Web. 24 Mar. 2011. . 5. â€Å"Understanding the Culture of Poverty.† Society of Teachers of Family Medicine. Web. 24 Mar. 2011. . 6. â€Å"Poverty and Healthcare: Fatefully Linked.† Hope Through Healing Hands. Web. 24 Mar. 2011. . 7. â€Å"Undernutrition: Disorders of Nutrition and Metabolism: Merck Manual Home Edition.† Merck & Co., Inc. Is a Global Research-driven Pharmaceutical Products Company. Web. 24 Mar. 2011. . 8. â€Å"Health Needs of People Living Below Poverty Level.† Transplant Fi nancial Coordinators. Web. 24 Mar. 2011. .