Why are The Elderly Considered a Vulnerable Population? Likewise, senior citizens are considered a vulnerable population, even if an individual elderly person is physically able to care for herself and is in full possession of her mental capacity.Sep 7, 2017

• What makes the elderly a vulnerable population. Economically, the elderly are a vulnerable group because their state of health is negatively affected by their lack of income. The vast majority of older adults does not work and therefore, have fewer options to earn income. As Chesney and Anderson (2016) observe, when declining income is coupled with the risk of the ever-rising cost of living, the elderly find themselves at an economic disadvantage because they are unable to find the best care

With the residents now living longer, the elderly are a vulnerable population because outliving one’s financial resources has serious repercussions on ones’ health. It has been outlined that about 21% of the older adults in the US have Social Security as their only source of income.

What is a vulnerable population?

Vulnerable populations , defined as those at greater risk for poor health status and healthcare access, experience significant disparities in life expectancy, access to and use of healthcare services, morbidity, and mortality. This population is also likely to have 1 or more physical and/or mental health conditions.

What are vulnerable nursing populations?

Vulnerable populations include patients who are racial or ethnic minorities, children, elderly, socioeconomically disadvantaged, underinsured or those with certain medical conditions. Members of vulnerable populations often have health conditions that are exacerbated by unnecessarily inadequate healthcare.

What are the major challenges facing the elderly?

10 common elderly health issues Chronic health conditions. According to the National Council on Aging, about 92 percent of seniors have at least one chronic disease and 77 percent have at least two. Cognitive health. Mental health . Physical injury. HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases. Malnutrition. Oral health. Substance abuse.

What is age based vulnerability?

Disease does not result from aging itself, but rather from the vulnerability that aging causes in lowering the threshold for the development of disease (TABLE 1). Due to age – related physiological changes (e.g., renal impairment), seniors are more vulnerable to adverse drug events (ADEs).

What are the 4 main types of vulnerability?

The 4 Types of Vulnerabilities Found in Great Men Physical Vulnerability . Economic Vulnerability . Social Vulnerability . Emotional Vulnerability .

Who are the most vulnerable in society?

Children, pregnant women, elderly people, malnourished people, and people who are ill or immunocompromised, are particularly vulnerable when a disaster strikes, and take a relatively high share of the disease burden associated with emergencies.

Are nurses a vulnerable population?

Healthcare workers have emerged as a vulnerable population group during COVID-19, and securing supply chains of personal protective equipment (PPE) has been identified as a critical issue to protect healthcare workers and to prevent health system overwhelm.

What is considered a vulnerable population in research?

There are many possible ways to define who is vulnerable in the research context. Some would include the following: those who are ill (dependent on clinician for care), ethnic or racial minorities, non-English speakers, children, the economically disadvantaged, adults with diminished capacity.

Who is at risk for health disparities?

Multiple socioeconomic factors contribute to health disparities , including income, education, residential segregation, stress, social and physical environment, employment, and many others. Disparities according to income and education have increased for smoking, with low-income persons smoking at higher rates.

What is the most common disease in elderly?

According to the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists, the most common chronic diseases afflicting the elderly are: Adult onset diabetes . Arthritis . Kidney and bladder problems. Dementia . Parkinson’s Disease . Glaucoma. Lung disease. Cataracts.

How old is elderly?

65 years

Why are the elderly considered vulnerable?

For example, seniors are vulnerable by virtue of their relatively decreased physical capacity. “Risk” refers to specific causes to which one is exposed. For example, people who live in glass houses are exposed to the risk of stone throwers.

What puts older adults at risk for vulnerability?

There are three main risk factors that contribute to vulnerability in older adults : health status; cognitive ability; and, social network.

How does age make someone vulnerable?

The Department of Health defines a vulnerable adult as a person aged 18 years 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