Vulnerable People and Places Blog

Walking around downtown Portland, you may have seen vendors of these $1 newspapers walking the streets, unaware of the impact it has made on some vendors' lives. With a tagline like, "Buck the System", it's no wonder Street Roots is turning heads. Street Roots, a Portland organization, has been addressing homelessness and poverty since 1998. They strive to create income opportunities, such as selling newspapers, for people experiencing poverty and homelessness in the Portland area.  In addition to their vendor program, they also produce resource guides with a list of current services for people experiencing homelessness and poverty in Multnomah and Washington Counties, with more than 160,000 guides published per year. These are distributed to organizations working with people experiencing homelessness and poverty in the Portland region. They are also strong advocates of efforts related to homelessness and housing in Portland, such as the Welcome Home Coali...

The rate of Alzheimer’s Disease and other dementias is on the rise in America. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, there are currently at least 5.7 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s Disease. This equates to 10% of the population age 65 and older. These progressive diseases systematically destroy the neurons in the brain and slowly rob people of their abilities to communicate, problem solve and care for themselves. They also greatly impact a person’s memory and other cognitive skills. These diseases require a large amount of outside care for the people they affect, and they are typically fatal. Music has been found to be an incredibly powerful treatment for people suffering from Alzheimer’s. It does not reverse or slow the progression of the disease by any means, but it can drastically improve the quality of life for people living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias. Music is one of the few things in this world that activates all areas of the brain. Because o...

According to the World Health Organization, approximately 20% of Americans over the age of 60 suffer from a mental or neurological disorder. The most common disorders within this population are dementia, depression, anxiety, and substance abuse. As people age and their health, mobility, vision, etc. decreases, instances of depression and other mental illnesses increases. Unfortunately, depression and other mental illnesses are sometimes seen as a naturally- occurring part of getting older and are not diagnosed or treated as they would be if identified in a younger person.  Many seniors do not seek help for these issues, however, as the stigma surrounding mental health sometimes discourages people from seeking help. The good news is that there are many things that can be done to assist seniors in improving their mental health. One method is to focus on the ideals of healthy aging and ensuring that seniors have access to supports and services that will allow them to live ...

As one becomes older, getting from place to place can be more difficult. Physical abilities often times put limits on an elderly person’s mobility which in turn limits one’s freedom. It is often hard for an older person to give up driving their own car because they don’t want to be limited. But as one gets older, they may not be able to read road signs or anticipate hazards as well.   While there are many other transportation options available, the access to these often differs across different regions. Public transportation is often more easily accessible in large cities, but in more rural areas the amount of ways a person can get from one place to another is often limited. Isolation can severely impact an older person’s ability to travel. This lack of access can lead to the elderly becoming stuck in their own home, even though they may wish to get outside.   The scheduling of public transportation is also a factor. Many elderly people may not be comfortable w...

Too often, aging Americans face obstacles in the voting process, typically surrounding mobility and their ability to physically get to the polls. It may be more difficult for older people to transport themselves to the polls since many people stop driving when they get older and therefore have no means of independent transportation. Many nursing homes and retirement living communities provide transportation for seniors living in their facilities as a standard service and will assist seniors in getting to a polling station. Unfortunately, not all of the members of this vulnerable population of Americans have access to these types of services. Some are not able to afford to live in such a facility. Some prefer to remain in their homes as long as they can, regardless of whether or not they are able to drive or care for themselves. These are the people who may face limitations in their ability to vote due to the physical limitations associated with aging. Absentee ballots allow...

When we think of nursing homes, we don't typically see much interaction between the elderly and the younger generation. A nursing home facility in Helsinki, Finland is looking to change that. This ingenious idea combats two big issues in the area, youth homelessness and also the loneliness problem in the elderly. Given the expensive cost of rent and rapid population growth in Helsinki, it has become harder for university students to find means of living.  Homes That Fit, pairs millennials  and seniors together in a nursing home, and allows for discounted apartments in the home, in exchange for socializing with the elderly. Emil Bostrom states, "The application process was quite long, because there was, I think, a bit over 300 applicants" for the program. This was a great opportunity for Emil because he was homeless. Socializing between these two groups can get rid of stereotypes such as "young people have no interest in talking to elderly" and al...

Many people are aware and acknowledge that babies and young children need a specialized diet in order to get the nutrients that they need to grow. That is a socially accepted idea, since they are so fragile. As children grow up, diets become more flexible and diverse to cater each person’s specific needs, which are usually observed and cared for by parents. Once, a child grows into an adult, he or she will take the responsibility of food onto themselves. This is simply the journey of a person’s life. However, when a person grows too old and weak — physically and mentally — curating a healthy diet becomes more difficult. This is a topic rarely discussed about, but older people need a specialized diet as well in order to live an optimal life. Thankfully, there are community services and organizations that help get food to senior citizens, but each of them have their own nutritional needs that need to be met. Of course living a life balance with a healthy diet and physical activity...

Vulnerable people and places may not be explicitly discussed about how often, but they are represented in the media and in popular culture. Whether that representation is positive or negative depends on the content. When deeply analyzing popular culture, one might start noticing a pattern that young children who are in a low income home or have some sort of undesirable home situation tend to be on the heavier side. Sometimes they are chubby and sometimes they are obese. Looking even deeper, there is a pattern that these children are usually part of a minority — specifically of Latino or African American descent. A current example of this would be a newly introduced character in the Deadpool movie franchise. In Deadpool 2, we meet Russell, a young Latino kid who has abandoned by his family to get help at an abusive institution. And he was obese. This stereotype may not be as glaring or problematic as older ones, but it shows how there is a connection between vulnerable people ...

While natural disasters can be detrimental to all people around the world, they often hit vulnerable people the hardest. Looking into the past, there are many natural disasters that support this statement. For example, during Hurricane Katrina, 71% of the deaths involved people above the age of 60 years old. Due to physical impairments and/or cognitive limitations, the elderly are often unable to get themselves to safety in a disaster without help from others. Seniors often require access to specific medications or assistance. In the event of a natural disaster, these needs are harder to fulfill. On average, seniors take around 5 different prescriptions. Loss of access to pharmacies in the case of an emergency could put an elderly person’s life at risk. Loss of electricity can be detrimental if a person requires oxygen or use of any sort of electrical device. Also, older people are often slow or resistant to evacuating. Home is a safe place for many people, especially most ...

A phenomenon has been gaining traction in the health community about the elderly as a vulnerable population and it's correlation to food insecurity.  Recent studies show that lean muscle mass, obesity, and increased frailty are greatly impacted by dietary adequacy. Especially older adults who are participating in the Older Americans Nutrition Act Program (OAANP). An abundance of adiposity is associated with chronic health conditions, including disability, decreased the quality of life and an increase in frailty, all leading to a greater risk for malnutrition and loss of independence. Surprisingly enough most promotions of health only focus on the lifespan and not necessarily health span which focuses on not just living longer but living well. Economics also plays a big part in food insecurity. The major known cause of malnutrition in older adults is low socioeconomic status, which in part connected to limited resources for purchasing food. Food cost, ava...

Access to primary healthcare is an issue that has been a struggle for vulnerable populations everywhere. Although some of the evidence is inconsistent, there are many things pointing towards vulnerable populations and their ability to receive adequate healthcare. Every user of a healthcare facility can potentially have vulnerabilities related to their access, but for some these vulnerabilities can be greater due to factors such as age, ethnicity, or social status. While these vulnerable people may have access in theory, there are other factors involved. First of all, there is a variety of quality among healthcare providers. Some people living in poorer regions for example, may not have the most reliable access to top healthcare professionals. Location can put some people at a greater disadvantage. People in poverty therefore are stuck with whatever resources they have around them, because they are less likely to be able to afford to travel to receive care at a different location. ...

Defining a vulnerable person is complex act, however, the Department of Health and the Home Office define a vulnerable adult as, “a person aged 18 or over, who is or may be in need of community care services by reason of mental or other disability, age or illness; and who is or may be unable to take care of him or herself, or unable to protect him or herself against significant harm or exploitation”. This definition is kept general so that it can be more inclusive in order to reflect the diversity found within the vulnerable population. Each person that fits within this definition will deal with his or her own sets of struggles. Something that girls and women within this community struggle with due to their societal status is the lack in feminine health care and sex education. There is a large disparity in health care access between women who live comfortably and the women who are poor. In fact, Black women have a higher risk of pregnancy related deaths and issues compared to ...

Last weekend, excitement was at an all time high at Portland International Raceway. Over 1,500 people, young and old, gathered to support Meals on Wheels, a nonprofit that provides 5,000 meals weekly to seniors in the Portland metro area. Together, teams and individual donors, were able to raise $331,294 for Meals on Wheels. The teams were made up of family members, friends, and coworker. Some wearing matching capes or adorable hats, which made it easier to spot the team members. Every team was armed and ready to show their support for the cause. And everyone was happy to be there. Kids were allowed snow cones at 10 am and parents were allowed Mimosa and Bloody Mary’s. And it is hard to forget about the free breakfast. Overall, the event was successful because it wasn’t entirely about raising money to support Meals on Wheels. It was a way for the community to engage with the seniors. Supporter and seniors for all over Portland had the opportunity to dine together, dance together, lau...