Reference no: EM133323859

Case: Vulnerable populations in healthcare are those that are of a minority without and advocate or a voice. Common to this group are the very young and elderly, those with disabilities, homeless population, certain geographical communities, and LGBTQ + population. Focusing on the homeless population, this community tends to have more chronic illnesses and mental health issues with comorbidities. Veterans are rated the highs group of mental illness diagnosis among the homeless population. In the United States it is estimated over half a million people are homeless at any given point. Worldwide 2% of the population is considered homeless. People can be displaced from their families for other reason than mental health, although this is considered the most common issue. Homelessness can be the result of domestic or substance abuse, family rejection, financial hardship, or a natural disaster.

This population is considered a vulnerable community due the individuality of what cause them to become homeless. One thing they have in common is the lack of financial resources and more than likely a job, which also means no healthcare coverage. When considering a homeless person with a mental illness, either can cause the other. Mental illness makes it difficult for a person to hold a job and manage a home and years of living on the street under tremendous stress can cause deterioration in one's mental health. Without health insurance, getting treatment for the mental illness is near impossible if the person even recognizes the need for help. Much of this community turns to drugs and alcohol to self-medicate their symptoms.

Members of the homeless community are trying to survive a day-to-day lifestyle with scavenging enough food to survive and a safe place to sleep each night. They do not have any other resource to survive or to get out of the situation they are in. Coordinated care, organized programs designed to help address the broad challenges homeless people face, is how nurses can advocate for the homeless population. There are many of these programs throughout the country currently. GRACE Team care out of Indiana was developed by the Indiana University School of Medicine's Center for Aging Research. This program provides healthcare for low-income seniors. It includes participants in the areas of social worker, nurse practitioners, mental health professionals, and pharmacist. (Jain, 2021).

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