Introduction
Ypsilanti is a small city in Michigan with a median age of about 25 years old. The implication is that the people living in the area are mostly young adults. They have many religious organizations, mainly Christians, as evident from the churches of different denominations. Moreover, the city has many recreational destinations where residents can visit and have fun or socialize. The cost of living in the city is relatively lower, but it has a high crime rate. An interview with two professional residents, a young female nurse called Smith (pseudonym) and the other a male real estate developer named Adam (pseudonym), revealed some of the issues faced in the community.
Issues Faced by the Ypsilanti Residents
One of the health issues that people have is chronic heart conditions. Surprisingly, a city with so many young people will have cardiovascular disease as one of the leading causes of death (Windshield Survey). I enquired further about the findings and learned that most residents have poor nutritional discipline. Young people eat fast foods and canned foods instead of well-cooked meals, which predisposes them to some health risks. The other issue Adam quickly noted is a high crime rate, sometimes with violence. Therefore, Ypsilanti city residents may have health concerns due to their poor diet causing ischemic complications and violence from criminals.
The Rationale for the Issues
The issue has a significant impact on the lives of the residents and needs urgent intervention. Noteworthy, as of 2020, cardiovascular disease was Ypsilanti’s leading cause of death (Windshield Survey). Noteworthy, people are diagnosed with the disease at an early age. Adam is currently managing heart disease, and he is in his mid-adulthood. He says that he lost his mother to the disease and constantly feared that he might die. Smith was attacked by a group of three men while going home from work at around eight in the evening. In addition, thieves broke into one of her friend’s houses and stole some jewelry. The fact that many people have either been victims or know someone who showed that insecurity is rampant.
People Affected
Health is a societal matter, much as it can concern an individual. Adam explained that most people who die from heart disease are at least 55. When one family member is sick, others have to take up caregiving roles. If the person was the primary breadwinner, there was a gap left. Health professionals are also affected by cardiovascular diseases and violent crime issues because they have to take care of their patients and ensure they improve their quality of life. The other group of people affected by criminals is investors. Generally, insecurity affects all the people living in the city because anyone can be a target of criminals.
Ways People Are Affected
Cardiovascular diseases significantly affect the patient’s quality of life as it makes them rely on drugs to maintain their health. The person has to spend money on drugs and other treatment requirements. Similarly, high rates of criminality cause people to live in fear of becoming victims, which can lower their quality of life. For example, Smith said she stopped going for her early morning run for exercise because she was afraid. Investors risk losing their business money when confronted with thieves and robbers. Some may opt to close their enterprises or move to safer towns.
Causative Factors
The major cause of an increase in cardiovascular disease is a sedentary lifestyle. Many people are increasingly becoming inactive and busy with life, school, and work. Sometimes, people need more time to fetch and cook a nutritious meal. In addition, the genetics of a person can predispose a person to develop the disease early. Regarding the issue of an increase in crime, the main cause is the degradation of societal values. The youthful generation, typical of the residents of Ypsilanti city, has a high demand for money and no qualifications for better jobs. Therefore, there are many causes of high disease burden and criminality.
Key Assets of the Community
One of the assets is that Ypsilanti City has many college students and young adults. A youthful generation is strong, innovative, and healthy. These characteristics make them an asset to society. The colleges help to attract more people to the city and increase multiculturalism. The other assets that the city has included many religious centers, which are instrumental in impacting the morals of the people. The presence of several recreational places is important as it can help young people build strong social and emotional health. Furthermore, the city may attract tourists who create employment directly when they need guides or indirectly to provide services such as food and accommodation.
Use of Assets in Addressing Issue
The young people are assets, and their natural skills and knowledge are sometimes used to sensitize the community members regarding issues such as a sedentary lifestyle and its effects. The religious buildings are used by congregants who attend services regularly to hear from their God. Noteworthy, the religious teachings encourage people to forsake antisocial and criminal behavior. If thieves can go to church, the teachings can positively impact their lives and transform them into responsible citizens. The recreational places are good for exercise, which reduces inactivity and a sedentary lifestyle, which translates to diseases. Therefore, the resources lead to overall health outcomes and enjoyment.
Priority and Goals for the Community
The priority is educating people on the sedentary lifestyle and its relation to chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases. The goal is to ensure that there is more preventive care than a curative one. In addition, helping people to take initiatives that promote health is important in enhancing the quality of life and delaying the onset of a disease. The next priority is creating decent employment for the youths and helping them establish businesses to generate money. The goal is to end criminal activities by ensuring that all people have a means of self-sustenance. The third priority is renovations of the recreational facilities to make them more attractive to locals and tourists, which can improve academic performance.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Ypsilanti is a small area that hosts many young people either in college or just starting careers. Therefore, it is a surprise to learn that cardiovascular disease is one of the leading causes of death. The issue raises the alarm about the increase in a sedentary life, which is causing young people to develop chronic diseases at a tender age. The other issue in Ypsilanti is the increase of criminals who steal and may injure others. Despite the vises, there are resources that they can use to rebuild societal norms. Thus, the goal should be eliminating the negative vices and replacing them with qualities such as hard work and nutrition planning.
Reference
Windshield Survey. Community Assessment Part 2. NUR 412 W3