Mentor/s
Professor Suzanne Deschenes Professor Brian Stiltner
Participation Type
Paper Talk
Abstract
Since the cost of living in the United States continues to rise, homelessness is a progressing issue with limited effective interventions. Even though “homelessness” can be temporary, many experience chronic homelessness and are near helpless in their situation.Various studies have exemplified higher rates of mortality and morbidity within this marginalized population, and specifically, the homeless are more likely to die young between 42 and 52 years of age.Without the same resources as the general population, it is evidently impossible for them to receive the same healthcare benefits. While the general population has financial resources to aid them in overcoming illness, the homeless lack these means. Consequently, rather than severe illnesses, the homeless tend to die from common and treatable conditions. When one has a medical issue, typically they seek help from medical facilities. However, the homeless tend to not follow this trend.Many homeless individuals feel that they have been discriminated against and ultimately unwelcome in health care facilities.Due to these presumptions, the homeless are less willing to get healthcare services and may not trust their providers since the care they receive is seemingly unacceptable. Further, such actions can be detrimental to their health as it introduces the cycle of chronic illness and needing medical attention, refusing treatment, and thus becoming sicker. In hopes of increasing the health of the homeless population, it is critical to understand that current literature does not address whether the homeless are justified in claiming that they are discriminated within healthcare. By evaluating the sociological and psychological barriers that the homeless population faces, it can be determined whether their reports of discrimination within the healthcare system are legitimate or unwarranted. As demonstrated in this paper, this marginalized population consistently claims to be discriminated against and these accusations are likely the repercussions of the barriers they face. This ultimately can lead to false allegations of discrimination. By extrapolating from these considerations, the opportunities to aid this marginalized population can be explored. My goal is to ultimately propose solutions that improve the delivery of healthcare to the United States’ homeless population.
College and Major available
Exercise Science UG
Location
Digital Commons
Start Day/Time
4-24-2020 2:00 PM
End Day/Time
4-24-2020 4:00 PM
Prize Categories
Most Scholarly Impact or Potential, Best Writing (formerly called the Writing Across the Curriculum prize; the final submission date to be considered for this award is Apr 1), Most Meaningful
This is the article submission.
The Perceived Discrimination of Homeless Individuals Within Healthcare
Digital Commons
Since the cost of living in the United States continues to rise, homelessness is a progressing issue with limited effective interventions. Even though “homelessness” can be temporary, many experience chronic homelessness and are near helpless in their situation.Various studies have exemplified higher rates of mortality and morbidity within this marginalized population, and specifically, the homeless are more likely to die young between 42 and 52 years of age.Without the same resources as the general population, it is evidently impossible for them to receive the same healthcare benefits. While the general population has financial resources to aid them in overcoming illness, the homeless lack these means. Consequently, rather than severe illnesses, the homeless tend to die from common and treatable conditions. When one has a medical issue, typically they seek help from medical facilities. However, the homeless tend to not follow this trend.Many homeless individuals feel that they have been discriminated against and ultimately unwelcome in health care facilities.Due to these presumptions, the homeless are less willing to get healthcare services and may not trust their providers since the care they receive is seemingly unacceptable. Further, such actions can be detrimental to their health as it introduces the cycle of chronic illness and needing medical attention, refusing treatment, and thus becoming sicker. In hopes of increasing the health of the homeless population, it is critical to understand that current literature does not address whether the homeless are justified in claiming that they are discriminated within healthcare. By evaluating the sociological and psychological barriers that the homeless population faces, it can be determined whether their reports of discrimination within the healthcare system are legitimate or unwarranted. As demonstrated in this paper, this marginalized population consistently claims to be discriminated against and these accusations are likely the repercussions of the barriers they face. This ultimately can lead to false allegations of discrimination. By extrapolating from these considerations, the opportunities to aid this marginalized population can be explored. My goal is to ultimately propose solutions that improve the delivery of healthcare to the United States’ homeless population.
Students' Information
Rachel Major, Exercise Science, Honors Student, Year of Graduation: 2020