Poverty entails more than consumption and income alone. Low income prevents people access to proper nutrition and treatment. This can also arise from inaccessibility to public utilities and programs because of denial of civil, economic and political liberties. The homeless individuals are considered to be at high risk for poor health. This has greatly increased, and most people are living in shelters and vehicles, thus high chances of poor health care. It mostly affects the needy and the immigrants. The lack of basic hygiene and the poor living conditions lead to breeding of lice and fleas. The group that is considered vulnerable population is the one with psychological, physical and social health problems (Lawless and Corr 54). This group may include the smokers and the drug users.
The vulnerable groups need advocacy because most of them are disadvantaged in that they are unable to express themselves due to mental illness, physical disability, housing instability, age and legal status. Language barrier can also make the situation be more challenging. The homeless group can be helped, but this will not favor every person. This is because some of them are illiterate, have addiction problems, are mentally ill, and others are veterans (Dedobbeleer and Desjardins 1963).
Others have bad luck and face unemployment problems. In addition, this group comprises of children or families. Advocating for this group needs a wide variety of resources such as GED preparation, training, addiction screening, mental health and free health clinics. Advocating for vulnerability and poor health goes hand in hand with the concept of risk. Nurses face risks such as unemployment and illness. There is also high risk of social exclusion and poverty.
Works cited
Lawless, M. and Corr, C. Drug use among the homeless population in Ireland, National Advisory Committee on Drugs, Dublin, 2005. Print.
Dedobbeleer, N. and Desjardins, S. ‘Outcomes of an ecological and participatory approach to prevent alcohol and other drug ‘abuse’ among multiethnic adolescents.’ International journal of Substance Use and Misuse 36(13) (2001): 1959–1991. Print.
