Physical Health - Disability Citizenship - Essay Example

Physical Health - Disability Citizenship Physical health is generically attribute to a wellness and soundness of the body, which in a majority of cases is the result of regular exercise and a good regime of physical activity, sound nutrition and a well balance diet supplemented by the requisite required level of rest. Studies show that within a country or a nation effectiveness or improvement with respect to nutrition, standards of living and quality of life and provision of health care is proportionate to an increase or improvement in the average height and weight of such a population. Physical health is the most common concept of health and health is generally assumed to be with reference of physical health alone. In recent time the improvement of physical health has become increasingly popular and a major source of advertisements and media attention. From improved nutritional intake to increased and regular physical activities being touted from every campaign, the developed as well as the developing world have been revolutionized. In the recent generation the physical well-being of an individual are highly encouraged by introducing the concept of “fitness” which generically include, but are not limited to, cardio respiratory endurance and muscular strength. Additional factors of physical health include, but are not limited to refrain from usages of drugs, alcohol and discriminatory sexual activity and rest. Approximately six hundred million people suffer from disabilities that can attributed to chronic diseases, injuries, violence, infectious diseases, malnutrition, and other causes closely related to poverty. Of this total, eighty percent (80%) are from developing countries where most are poor and have limited or no access to basic health services, including rehabilitation facilities. Despite most medical policies averring to the fact that hospitals strive to provide care to all individuals who require it, access to health care not available to all individuals. Forty six (46) million Americans, including nine (9) million children, are living without healthcare coverage (Patterson & Pegg, 2009). The most key issues remain the disintegration of support functions in the form of community-based resources which results in the over burdening of hospital emergency rooms for issues that could be resolved elsewhere. Another fundamental issue of health care remains the ever present constraint of resources. Despite developed countries having specific goals and polices in place for health care, there remains inequality and inaccessibility to adequate provision to all at all times. According to OECD figures, health care is seen to be at an approximate ten (10%) of the GNP of most developed nations. In 2008, health care consumed sixteen percent (16.0%) of the United States GDP, France eleven point two percent (11.2%) and Switzerland at ten point seven percent (10.7%). Globally there are stark contrasts with respect to the spending on and consequently access to health care, which results in far reaching consequences as studies shows that the top five (5) percent of the world’s population spends almost 4,5000 times as much on health care as opposed to the lowest twenty percent (20%). Studies estimate unequal and insufficient provision of access to health care may have contributed to the premature deaths of 100 million women across the globe, predominantly within China, South Asia and North Africa. Countries with low levels of health care spending generally show corresponding low life expectancy rates. Additionally industrialized countries, as compared to non-industrialized countries, can be seen to have an increased number of medical physicians per 100,000 citizens (Darcy & Taylor, 2009). According to Dr. Milind Deogaonkar, Department of Neurosciences Cleveland Clinic Foundation, “Social and economic inequality is detrimental to the health of any society. Especially when the society is diverse, multicultural, overpopulated and undergoing rapid but unequal economic growth”. While most governments and individuals aim to create a healthy environment, complemented by healthy families, societies and countries, the detrimental impact caused on health by unequal social and economical conditions cannot be denied. These difficulty in access to health care can predominately be seen to be due to geographical distance since the penetration of health care does not extend to less developed regions of a country or socio economic distance whereby poverty levels restrict access to health care that is not subsidized by the state or gender distance, where female mortality takes a back seat to that of a man due to prevailing social and cultural norms. Learning Disability The 2002 Learning Disability Roundtable defined the concept as: "Strong converging evidence supports the validity of the concept of specific learning disabilities (SLD). This evidence is particularly impressive because it converges across different indicators and methodologies. The central concept of SLD involves disorders of learning and cognition that are intrinsic to the individual. SLD are specific in the sense that these disorders each significantly affect a relatively narrow range of academic and performance outcomes. SLD may occur in combination with other disabling conditions, but they are not due primarily to other conditions, such as mental retardation, behavioral disturbance, lack of opportunities to learn, or primary sensory deficits." (nrcld.org, 2010) Learning disabilities are differentiated between with respect to the type of information processing that is hampered or by the specific difficulties experience due to a processing deficit. They affect the brain’s ability to deal with the information that is coming through different sensory organs. Brain of an affected person finds it difficult and at times impossible to store this information, relate to it or to analyze it. This problem is pervasive throughout the lifespan of the patient. They can be classified with respect to the four stages of processing of information that take place, namely: input of information through senses such as visual or auditory. Integration of information or sequencing of information or memorization. Storage of information due to limitations of short/long term memory. Outputs of information vide words/language. This can be seen by limitation regarding answering questions or restriction of motor skills. To cater to individuals suffering from learning disabilities, most countries have revamped relevant laws and regulations pertaining to aspects of life that individuals suffering from learning disabilities may find restrictive. Special health care providers are trained and properly regulated professionally to cater to these individuals with special needs. However the laws and regulations that deal with provision of health care to individuals with learning disabilities are by no means equal or relevant globally for the same reasons as those that afflict health in general. The Patient Physical health is generically attribute to a wellness and soundness of the body, which in a majority of cases is the result of regular exercise and a good regime of physical activity, sound nutrition and a well balance diet supplemented by the requisite required level of rest. Studies show that within a country or a nation effectiveness or improvement with respect to nutrition, standards of living and quality of life and provision of health care is proportionate to an increase or improvement in the average height and weight of such a population. Physical health is the most common concept of health and health is generally assumed to be with reference of physical health alone. In recent time the improvement of physical health has become increasingly popular and a major source of advertisements and media attention. From improved nutritional intake to increased and regular physical activities being touted from every campaign, the developed as well as the developing world have been revolutionized. In the recent generation the physical wellbeing of an individual are highly encouraged by introducing the concept of “fitness” which generically include, but are not limited to, cardio respiratory endurance and muscular strength. Additional factors of physical health include, but are not limited to refrain from usages of drugs, alcohol and discriminatory sexual activity and rest. Tones (1994) defined health promotion as “any combination of educational, legal, fiscal, economic, environmental and organizational interventions designed to facilitate the achievement of health and the prevention of diseases.” Essentially health promotion includes actions that enhance good health which could be aimed at individuals, groups or the whole population and is not merely limited to the services provided within the professionals of the Health industry. Health promotion is divided under three(3) heads; principally health education that provides information and knowledge to the recipient, prevention of contracting diseases and illnesses and health protection vide regulations and polices or voluntary practices intended to improve the living arrangements or the environment for better health (Mazur, 2008).. With John suffering from diminished mental capability as well as being deaf and blind, John’s ability to input, integrate, store and output information may well be assumed to be severely hampered. The facts state that he has also demonstrated tendencies of causing injury to his own self and that he required institutionalization for a significant period of time. However with recent developments within health care for disabilities and UK’s local authorities stepping up and streamlining care for diminished capacity individual John’s living conditions have the option of becoming significantly improved as compared to an individual in the same position ten (10) or so years ago. Generally lower education groups can be seen to have higher levels of stress as opposed to groups with greater academic achievements. This is supplemented by bouts of lower self-esteem and self-worth. This was supported by determinations of the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, whereby it was determine that elderly people with greater academic achievements were likely to have increased life spans. The San Francisco VA Medical Center has recorded that education at less than a ninth-grade level can approximately double the five-year risk of mortality among the elderly. Socio- economically wise John has an advantage over other individuals living within developing countries and his access to adequate and requisite health care appears to be superlative. The support available by Britain’s culture and social awareness to John can be assumed to be one of the best globally. The recent promulgation of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 is an added advantage to individuals in John’s situation. Naturally John’s ability to fund the care he requires and/or the ability of the social care system to fund his care would be a significant factor that would shape the arrangement that John would find himself in. The level of care that John undoubtedly requires would be a heavy strain on the health care system however the provision of such care exists regardless. Mental health is an indicator of an individual’s cognitive and emotional state. In essence good mental health would exist in the absence of any mental disorder to disability. "A state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community". (WHO) However there is no stringent definition or explanation of mental health as the concept remains inherently subjective. The concept of a mental illness is infinitely more conclusive to determine as opposed to the lack thereof i.e. mental health as out of a sample set of a hundred (100) individuals, despite there being a lack of mental illness within all hundred (100) individuals, any one (1), to the very least, of those hundred (100) individuals would be mentally healthier than the remaining (Quinn, 2009). Generally it is understood that good mental health has certain indicators that construe the existence of such mental health, including the capability of adjusting and recovering from setbacks, the capability to live life in moderation and be amenable to and accept change, acceptance of reality and satisfaction with ones achievements and existent situation - and overall feeling of well-being in essence. As stated within the facts John, after a long period of being institutionalized, now resides in a home. The local authorities in UK have facilitated the arrangement of individuals with disabilities living in homes, either cumulatively or even independently, depending upon the severity of the disability and other variable, under managed care programs. Individuals suffering from disabilities of any manner, including learning disabilities, may choose to opt for residing in homes for any number of reasons including illness or death of their previous careers, independence of their children, release from institution or the mere yearning for a as normal a life as possible. Adults with Learning Disabilities in England, fifty to sixty percent (50-60%) of individuals suffering from learning disabilities live with their families, thirty percent (30%) live in care homes and fifteen percent (15%) live independently (Wehmeyer, et al. 2006). Under the Mental Capacity Act 2005, an individual suffering from learning disabilities has the right to execute tenancy agreements for individual living, however subject to the required levels of mental capacity. However it is pertinent to note that the lack of capacity needs to be proven. In John’s case, he lives in a home with other individuals and requires care hence his capacity to live individually would be assumed to be severely diminished. However working with the entire realm of disabilities he has, the freedom of living in a home with adequate is a luxury very few nations would be able to provide and/or afford to individual such as John. John’s care would most probably be regulated by the Independent Mental Capacity Advocate (the “IMCA”)as the IMCA must be instructed and consulted in the cases of independent living of individuals who do not have the requisite levels of capacity to manage their own affairs. Such high levels of care and the development of a normal and healthy living arrangement for Johns would undoubtedly have a positive implication on his mortality rate. Especially with regulated social care issued by the region that John lives in would result in living a complete and fulfilled as far as reasonably possible within the ambit of his physical constraints. Most organized societies have at all stages realized the importance of some form of formal public health services. The ancient Greeks, through Hippocrates, realized the importance of clean and conscientious living. Britain established its boards of public health in the cities from the late 18th century and it is indeed upon the basis of such boards that John would be able to relieve himself of the requirement of institutionalization and be able to live within a care home and maintain a basic semblance of a normal existence. Since john comes from a well institutionalized background, he, compared to others would be better able to respond to the staff’s instructions and directions. This way staff willingly supports him during his anxiety attacks and he gets personal attention. John suffers from meningitis. It’s a disease in which the membrane that surrounds the sensitive tissues of brain and spinal cord gets inflamed due to a virus or bacteria. In some cases, it can be even caused by an illness or certain medication. John got meningitis when he was six. His situation further aggravated when he started exhibiting self-injurious behavior. The house and its care system will help john to live a normal life. He would be taken care of by professional people but at the same time john will be able to live an independent life and retain his dignity and control. John is deaf and blind too apart from being mentally handicapped. He suffers from dual diagnosis of learning disability and mental health. This makes it extremely difficult for him to communicate his basic needs to the staff. Verbal communication becomes really challenging for him at times (Ten Klooster, et al. 2009). He is a lot better than other disabled people who come from underdeveloped and financially weak backgrounds and have no or hardly any access to personal care. Before coming to the home and undergo the institutionalization process, john was living with his family. After the death of his wife who was a very active woman, john moved out of the house and left his family. His wife used to take care of him, his needs and she was his only support (care taker). Secondly, john’s condition started getting worse with time and his behavior became more challenging for the family. His monetary assets helped him access the facilities available for the disable people in Britain. Learning disability is not a very rare disease. Around four million children of school age suffer from this. Out of this number, some twenty percent have difficulty in focusing their attention to the work. It starts showing when child finds it hard to communicate to his peers, teachers and his parents. It gets really tiring for him to solve basic mathematical problems or pay attention in the class. There could be many reasons for a certain child’s disability. he might be suffering due to a genetic factor, or there had been a problem with his brain during the development stage. He might have born immature. Lack of an oxygen while he was in mother’s womb could also be another reason for him to develop learning disability. an individual usually realizes this when he starts comparing his efforts to the result. His peers do better in tests than him (Kennedy, & Deshler, 2010). It is definitely very essential to know the cause of somebody’s learning disability, as some types of learning disability are thought to be associated with particular learning characteristics. As an example we can state that some syndromes or impairments for that matter are associated with medical conditions, therefore knowing this will enable one to help people avoid situations which may be dangerous or help someone deal with emergencies. First step of diagnosis is to get help for some therapist or a psychiatrist who conducts certain speech, vision and hearing tests. Results of these tests reveal the individual’s weaknesses and strength. And hence his particular learning disability gets diagnosed. In essence, we need to remember that people are people first and so their individuality should be valued to the highest order. Just like the rest of us people with learning disability dislike being labeled and always described in terms of their disability. Bibliography Ben SholmoY, White IR, Marmot M. (1996) Does the variation of socio-economic characteristics of an area affect mortality? BMJ,312,1013-4. Jejeebhoy SJ, Sathar ZA. 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