Resources’ availability and the absence of factors that might contribute to the discomfort of an individual are essential conditions needed to sustain one’s health and preventing health concerns from developing. Specifically, healthcare facilities located in close proximity to a patient represent a critical requirement, especially for aging patients that are likely to have difficulties accessing the provided healthcare options. Due to the multiple opportunities for patient access to required services that the local infrastructure provides, the target community can be described as rich in health management resources for the target population.
The opportunity for accessing a local wellness center is one of the main advantages that the infrastructure of the local community has. Specifically, the Wellcare Senior Center remains open to aging patients in need for support, providing its clients not only with essential nursing services but also with dining options. Specifically, breakfast, lunch, and dinner are offered at the center, with respective menus reflecting various dietary needs of the target population. The specified approach toward managing patients’ issues is remarkably sensible since aging people require specific dieting options that need to support their treatment and provide opportunities for receiving the required amount of nutrients (Bonder & Dal Bello-Haas, 2017). Therefore, the specified approach reflects the sensibility and care of the organization’s managers and leaders.
Additionally, the provision of aid with nursing assessments, as well as other procedures and routine actions, proves that the target community is completely aware of the challenges faced by aging people and the strategies that should be utilized to assist the target demographic. Namely, due to the problems in physical functioning and cognitive abilities, aging patents require more thorough monitoring of their compliance with the prescribed therapy and treatment, particularly, the intake of medication (Nafradi et al., 207). In turn, the Wellcare Senior Center staff’s focus on monitoring patients following the recommended treatment options represents a reasonable and sensible addition to the concept of care. Similarly, the monitoring of patients’ key health issues, such as the levels of blood glucose, represent the vital element of care that allows maintaining the target population’s health status (Bonder & Dal Bello-Haas, 2017). Therefore, the quality of care can be described a quite impressive.
The focus on leisure and the entertainment opportunities for the aging population is another aspect of the community environment worth discussing. While the options offered at the Wellcare Senior Center do not include anything spectacular, they do introduce rather versatile recreational options, ranging from games and gardening to karaoke and shopping trips. Therefore, the specified facility can be regarded as exceptionally useful in supporting aging patients and increasing the accessibility of care for them.
Additionally, when considering the local infrastructure, one should mention the condition of the sidewalks, which can be described as excellent. While the issue at hand could be regarded as insignificant, the presence of faulty sidewalks or the absence thereof, in general, represents quite significant danger for aging people. Specifically, the specified detail of the infrastructure defines the safety of pedestrians and, therefore, allows people to avoid accidents that can led to significant injuries. In turn, sidewalks with defects may cause aging people to face the threat of an accident and, therefore, lead to a major injury or, in the worst-case scenario, death (Cheng & Chang, 2017). Therefore, the presence of sidewalks that are kept in pristine and proper condition is vital for the well-being of the aging population. Specifically, the fact that the community in question has sidewalks clearly marked allows aging people with vision problems to identify safe areas to cross the street easily, leading to effective prevention of accidents (Bonder & Dal Bello-Haas, 2017). Therefore, the specified aspect of the community can also be seen as a major advantage that contributes to the well-being of the aging people living in it.
Arguably, some of the infrastructure issues, such as the accessibility of transportation to the aging people living in the community in question, could use certain improvements. While the services typically deemed as necessary are located quite close to the population in question, which does not necessitate the presence of multiple transportation options, the need to take a long-distance travel may emerge. Therefore, options for accessing different transportation points and being able to travel long distance should also be provided to the community in question. Otherwise, the general assessment of the target environment indicates that it offers an excellent environment for the local aging population.
With multiple healthcare options for patients to consider located in the vicinity of the housing area, the community in question can be regarded as comfortable and safe from health management perspective. However, minor issues with the access of the store should be mentioned as the core issues with the specified infrastructure. Presently, it is recommended that the accessibility of the store for the patient could increase, which can be achieved by improving the design of the facility entrance so that aging people could use it easily. Otherwise, the community in question should be deemed as fairly safe in terms of healthcare service access.
Reference
Bonder, B. R., & Dal Bello-Haas, V. (2017). Functional performance in older adults. FA Davis.
Cheng, M. H., & Chang, S. F. (2017). Frailty as a risk factor for falls among community dwelling people: evidence from a meta‐analysis.Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 49(5), 529-536. Web.
Nafradi, L., Nakamoto, K., & Schulz, P. J. (2017). Is patient empowerment the key to promote adherence? A systematic review of the relationship between self-efficacy, health locus of control and medication adherence.PloS One, 12(10), 1-23. Web.
Appendix A: Community Assessment
