Introduction
With the growing number of elderly people in need of care, nursing homes and long-term care facilities have become more vital than ever. However, these institutions pose significant health disparities for aging individuals from minority communities, which could lead to a lower quality of life, limited independence, and untimely death. To build evidence supporting our views on this issue, we will analyze various resources that demonstrate the challenges they face, like transportation problems, pandemic disadvantages, and workforce crises within direct care. Exploring current research regarding vulnerable populations is necessary to understand the difficulties comprehensively. By delving into these topics, a more intricate understanding of challenges will evolve, providing insight into promoting equity and social justice within the healthcare system.
Secondary Research Exploration
A secondary research investigation was undertaken to understand better the healthcare disparities that elderly people of color face in nursing homes all over the United States. Our pursuit involved scouring reliable online resources in ASU Library, among others, and identifying five fresh, relevant, and credible sources underpinning our argument around three key themes: barriers to transportation, COVID-19’s impact, and workforce crisis for direct care.
To gain insights into transportation barriers, our research delved into scholarly studies and peer-reviewed journal articles that could assist us in identifying the challenges diverse older adults encounter when accessing transportation to and from nursing homes. An example of a valuable resource we consulted was “‘We want to go, but there are no options’: Exploring barriers and facilitators of transportation among diverse older adults” by Dabelko-Schoeny et al. (2021), which tackles the factors influencing diverse older adults’ choices regarding transportation and presents potential solutions for enhancing their access to it.
The impact of COVID-19 on nursing home residents of color was investigated by consulting articles and other resources provided by community leaders and experts in the field. Among the sources reviewed, “Nursing home care in crisis in the wake of COVID-19” by Grabowski and Mor (2020) highlights the severe consequences of the pandemic for nursing homes and their elderly and minority occupants.
By scouring through various official documents, financial statements from corporations, and peer-reviewed journals, we thoroughly understood the direct care workforce crisis and its considerable effects on the quality of care in nursing homes. One notable source we stumbled upon was “It is time to resolve the direct care workforce crisis in long-term care,” authored by Scales (2021), which details the persistent scarcity of direct care workers explicitly.
In our secondary research, we unearthed five fresh sources detailing the health disparities encountered by elderly individuals of color who are residing in nursing homes throughout America. To better understand the relevance of these sources to our study, we will provide a comprehensive annotated bibliography for each source. This annotation will outline crucial takeaways, discuss credibility and evaluate how each piece contributes to our investigation.
Secondary Research Annotation
To strengthen the argument surrounding health injustices facing elderly minorities in nursing home facilities throughout America, I have curated annotations for five reputable secondary sources found via ASU Library or online. Each source was chosen strategically to provide valuable insight and additional support for my thesis.
Dabelko-Schoeny, H., Maleku, A., Cao, Q., White, K., & Ozbilen, B. (2021). “We want to go, but there are no options”: Exploring barriers and facilitators of transportation among diverse older adults. Journal of Transport & Health, 20, 100994.
Older adults often face numerous transportation hurdles when accessing critical resources such as healthcare and social services. By conducting interviews and focus groups with diverse older adults, the authors identified several specific challenges related to transportation accessibility. These findings highlight the negative impact on older adults’ health outcomes when adequate transportation is unavailable, making this article an invaluable resource for my proposal.
Grabowski, D. C., & Mor, V. (2020). Nursing home care in crisis in the wake of COVID-19. Jama, 324(1), 23-24.
The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted nursing home care, resulting in several challenges. The authors of this article assert that nursing homes have been hit the hardest, with residents experiencing high rates of infection and mortality. This study offers a valuable perspective on the current state of nursing homes and may prove beneficial while discussing the negative consequences of alternate solutions.
Gordon, A. L., Goodman, C., Achterberg, W., Barker, R. O., Burns, E., Hanratty, B., … & Spilsbury, K. (2020). Commentary: COVID in care homes—challenges and dilemmas in healthcare delivery. Age and ageing, 49(5), 701-705.
Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare providers in nursing homes have grappled with challenges and moral dilemmas in caring for elderly residents who are highly susceptible to the virus. This commentary delves into the practical and ethical considerations that arise when providing healthcare services to vulnerable older adults during a public health crisis. Its insights could be valuable for addressing the counterarguments and objections to my proposal, as it delves into the complexities of nursing home care.
Miller, E. A. (2020). Protecting and improving the lives of older adults in the COVID-19 era. Journal of aging & social policy, 32(4-5), 297-309.
While the COVID-19 pandemic has had far-reaching effects on individuals across all age ranges, older adults are particularly vulnerable to its negative consequences. To better understand how this population has been affected, this article comprehensively outlines some specific challenges seniors faced during this period, such as social isolation and financial insecurity. Health disparities concerning elderly people of color residing in nursing homes are addressed, emphasizing how our proposed solutions must work towards reducing inequities within healthcare systems.
Scales, K. (2021). It is time to resolve the direct care workforce crisis in long-term care. The Gerontologist, 61(4), 497-504.
In long-term care, the direct care workforce crisis demands urgent attention for resolution, as argued by Scales (2021). The author firmly believes the aging population deserves quality care from skilled and motivated direct care workers. However, the current reality shows us that this workforce needs to be more valued, overworked, and underpaid. To mitigate these challenges, Scales asserts that investing in training, compensation, and support for direct care workers will benefit their job satisfaction and significantly improve the quality of care received by older adults. Scales’ argumentation draws strength from being published in a reputable peer-reviewed journal in gerontology, The Gerontologist. The presented study holds significance for my argument regarding the difficulties faced by direct care workers in long-term care and how this workforce crisis can impact the quality of care given to elderly people in marginalized communities.
Conclusion
As evidenced by the diverse secondary sources reviewed in this research assignment, there is a dire need for improved support for elderly people of color residing in nursing homes throughout the United States. Specifically, individuals within this community experience significant barriers related to transportation access and difficulties accessing quality care during periods such as pandemics. Furthermore, insufficient staffing levels exacerbate existing health disparities among elderly individuals seeking long-term care. Addressing the health inequalities faced by elderly people of color requires a focus on diversity and inclusivity in healthcare delivery within long-term care settings, as various sources underscore. It is necessary to comprehend their distinct circumstances to ensure that they are receiving equitable care. Subsequent research efforts should prioritize developing effective policies and strategies to tackle these disparities. Overall, this assignment presented an occasion to analyze and assess secondary sources, establish their credibility and significance, and blend multiple perspectives and concepts to buttress a research argument. This exercise enabled me to grasp the criticality of secondary research in creating a solid stance.
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