Older people with disabilities living in the countryside are an economically vulnerable group that needs the support of society. Supplemental Security Income is one of the ways to improve the situation, but most of the current programs do not cover everyone who needs help. Making Supplemental Security Income programs more available for persons with disabilities might significantly improve the quality of life and health outcomes of older people living in the country.
Many persons in risk groups cannot receive help from Supplemental Security Income programs because of limitations associated with the application process. Some people do not meet the biased criteria to be qualified as poor, and others cannot deal with the administrative burden because of their health limitations (Keesler, 2015). In the face of these problems, such programs need to be organized to cover a broader range of vulnerable populations and provide assistance in application to those who need it. Better funding of such programs is fully justified because, apart from improved health outcomes, they have economic benefits for society. Supplemental Security Income enhances the quality of life of its practitioners and has a positive effect on their food security, which is tightly linked with health conditions such as diabetes (Brouns, 2018). Thus, as a preventive measure for the negative health consequences associated with poverty, such programs can save money that the government spends on the treatment of serious diseases.
Supporting vulnerable members of the community is necessary to create a fair and stable society. Supplemental Security Income programs help disabled people with financial difficulties to improve their quality of life and diet. By making a positive effect on health outcomes and prevention of future disease, these programs also help saving money. Expending such programs and making them easier to apply will have a significant positive effect on society, especially in rural areas of the United States.
References
Brouns, F. (2018). Overweight and diabetes prevention: is a low-carbohydrate–high-fat diet recommendable? European journal of nutrition, 57(4), 1301-1312.
Keesler, J. M. (2015). Applying for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) for Individuals With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: Family and Service Coordinator Experiences. Intellectual and developmental disabilities, 53(1), 42-57.