Specialized populations have a greater need for end-of-life hospice care, palliative care, and social services. This is the case mainly due to their health conditions, age, or life circumstances.
The care needed for these individuals can vary greatly and requires specialized care. It may include the provision of physical comfort, relief of symptoms, making decisions about end-of-life care, emotional support, spiritual guidance, and even legal issues.
No matter which specialized population, the goal should always be to provide care tailored to the individual’s needs. End-of-life care should focus on providing comfort, dignity, and quality of life in a safe, supportive, and caring environment.
What is a specialized population?
A specialized population is a group of people needing technical services to meet their health, educational, or social needs. Specialized people are either in a minority group or have a unique set of exceptional circumstances that require special attention.
They may have physical, mental, or emotional disabilities, live in poverty, and lack access to adequate healthcare. A specialized group may also have language barriers, whether school-aged children, seniors, or members of certain ethnic or racial groups.
Recognizing and understanding the unique needs of such a population is the first step in providing them with services that address these needs.
Characteristics of specialized populations
Here are some of the characteristics of specialized populations.
Limited support systems
Limited support systems refer to more access to services, resources, and assistance for specialized populations. Various demographics, including income level, racial background, gender, age, or location, among other criteria, may define these populations.
A lack of access to support systems typically impairs their substance use, mental health, and overall well-being.
Limited support systems can also prevent the specialized population from making meaningful changes to their lives. That is true because services such as intensive career counseling are difficult to access due to cost or other reasons.
Lower socioeconomic status
Lower socioeconomic status (SES) refers to a lower economic and social group within a given society. It comes with poorer housing, a lack of resources for basic needs such as food, clothing, and health care, and limited educational and economic opportunities.
Individuals and families of lower SES may face burdens that impede their ability to reach their full potential, such as physical and mental health problems, discrimination, and poverty.
Specialized populations have been historically marginalized and often lack access to the resources they need to improve their lives. As a result, their risk of poverty is disproportionate to that of higher-income individuals.
Lack of access to education
Specialized populations may need access to the educational resources available to other people. It is not the case in rural and lower socioeconomic areas, where the educational resources necessary for quality education are unavailable.
A lack of resources includes appropriate buildings, supplies, and teachers, which can lead to disparities in academic achievement. Lower incomes and language barriers can also prevent specialized populations from accessing primary education.
Another issue is that they may need access to higher education opportunities, like college. These barriers can lead to specialized populations feeling like their value is less than that of other populations.
It makes them feel like they don’t belong and makes it hard to break the cycle of poverty. Giving access to education to specialized populations and creating an equitable learning environment are essential to providing the same opportunities to everyone.
Unique health needs
Developmental, social, and environmental factors can influence a person’s health, creating a unique set of needs. For example, seniors may have special needs due to diminished physical ability, altered mental status, or medical issues.
Each age group has different considerations and specific service requirements. Prenatal health needs, immunizations, and nutrition specific to other age groups can be unique health needs for that group.
Transportation and distance to care and services can be issues for rural communities, potentially leading to a lack of access and unique health needs in that population.
Health disparities between specialized people and the general population can also contribute to particular health needs, leading to an unequal distribution of health services.
Isolation and exclusion
These are the tendencies for specific individuals or communities to become isolated or excluded from society because of their unique characteristics or particular needs. It could include religious beliefs, ethnicity, economic class, culture, language, gender, or physical or mental health.
These populations are defined by their distinct histories, customs, cultures, or wording that differ from the broader society.
Isolation and exclusion can be both positive and negative. On the positive side, it can provide opportunities for individuals to explore, create, and develop their unique skills and resources without distraction from the outside world.
On the negative side, the isolation of specific communities can generate a sense of fear, resentment, and ignorance that can lead to further marginalization and prejudice.
To ensure the well-being of specialized populations, policymakers and government bodies need to focus on reducing economic disparity, increasing access to quality education, and preserving cultural diversity.
In this way, fewer people will feel isolated, and more will feel empowered to participate in a broader society.
Examples of specialized population
Here are examples of specialized populations.
Elderly people
Older people can be considered a specialized population due to late adulthood’s unique experiences, challenges, and needs. Their increased vulnerability is paramount to their physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
Older adults may face challenges such as memory loss, physical decline, and emotional difficulties such as loneliness or depression. There may be specialized services such as aging care facilities, support groups, and physical therapists to address these issues.
Senior discounts can also be available, allowing older people to access certain leisure activities or services that may not otherwise be available. Older people can also benefit from specialized health care providers, such as geriatricians and elder law attorneys, with expertise in providing appropriate care to elderly individuals.
Due to health restrictions or mobility issues, older people may have specific dietary needs, so specialized meal delivery or home-cooking services may also be necessary. Older people are an essential part of our society and can benefit from the recognition and respect that come from understanding their specialized needs.
People with physical disabilities
Physical disabilities refer to impairments or any health condition that limits an individual’s ability to perform an activity in the manner customarily considered ordinary throughout the human body and mind. People with physical disabilities are a specialized population due to the unique challenges they may face daily.
Many people with physical disabilities may not have equal access to the same physical spaces commonly used by people without physical disabilities, such as buildings, transportation, or entertainment. They may experience additional physical pain and fatigue as a result of their disability and may require the use of adaptive equipment.
Low-income people
Low-income people typically consist of those whose income falls below the poverty line. Individuals usually face far higher rates of chronic illnesses and access to preventive healthcare and quality treatment than other population sectors.
Providing this population with equitable care, health education, and resources is essential, as mitigating poverty-related stressors ensures comprehensive health benefits. It includes specialized programming in nutrition, fitness, job skills, parenting, mental health, substance abuse, literacy, and educational attainment.
Likewise, many of these individuals may require language or cultural translations to accommodate their needs best, further accentuating the need for specialized resources within this population.
People with mental disabilities
Individuals with a mental disability may experience deficits in their cognitive functions, behavior, emotions, and responses to stress. Examples of mental disabilities include things like depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and substance abuse disorders.
People with mental disabilities make up a particular population because they often require individualized accommodations and services that traditional folks may not need. These accommodations can include additional emotional or clinical support, specialized educational arrangements, or more accessible access to disability-related services.
People with mental disabilities are also at increased risk for specific physical and emotional health issues and may require more specialized medical care. Those providing treatment and care for this population must deeply understand their needs and concerns.
How are specialized populations cared for?
Here are ways in which specialized populations are cared for.
Personalized care plan
Personalized care plans effectively care for specialized populations, such as people with disabilities and chronic illnesses. The purpose of such plans is to meet each patient’s needs and consider their unique physical, psychological, and social challenges.
It involves understanding different factors affecting their condition, such as personal skills, social support, environment, access to resources, lifestyle, and nutrition.
A personalized care plan is shaped according to the needs of each individual to help them meet their goals and objectives most efficiently. It could include arranging the right services or resources, setting appropriate expectations and goals, and changing the patient’s lifestyle or environment.
This type of care may also include monitoring the patient’s progress, coordinating care plans and resources, and providing emotional support.
Recreational activities
Recreational activities, such as sports, arts and crafts, music, and other hobbies, can be a fun and interactive way to engage individuals and bring them joy and relief from stress. For those dealing with physical, mental, emotional, or cognitive disabilities, engaging in activities they can participate in and enjoy can help them find an outlet for their emotions.
Recreational activities for specialized populations can also provide a sense of confidence and help develop physical and mental skills. They can even help them learn to manage and cope with daily life.
In addition, engaging in recreational activities for specialized populations can also help strengthen families and create positive social relationships.
To gain skills such as strengthening families and creating positive social relationships, Cleveland State University offers you the chance to pursue an MSN population health program. The program equips you to detect, plan, provide for, and examine the health requirements of people and groups with similar health changes, diseases, or impairments.
This degree program is perfect for individuals who want to focus on the health requirements of a specific group. People who complete this program may go on to work in healthcare settings dealing with diabetes, heart conditions, or post-transplant management.
Support groups
Support groups provide a safe, nonjudgmental forum where members can express feelings, offer advice, and support each other in various ways. Group members share everyday experiences, which can help them identify with each other and provide comfort.
Members receive guidance from a mental health professional or facilitator who maintains confidentiality and safety boundaries. The group can also provide education and information regarding the specialized population’s specific issue, such as coping skills, lifestyle modifications, or simply support and understanding.
Support groups also promote nonjudgmental interaction with peers, which may reduce the isolation and emotional distress that those in specialized populations often experience.
Access to social services
Social services are programs from various sources, including social and healthcare professionals and other organizations. These services often target low-income populations, older people, families, and veterans.
Specialized populations require specialized care and often have unique needs that differ from those of the general population. For example, impoverished people may require additional resources for job search, housing, and health services.
Elderly individuals may need health and home care services and access to housing and transportation opportunities.
There are a variety of organizations and programs that provide access to social services for those with special needs. These often include public and private agencies that work with local governments to provide resources and assistance.
In addition, local churches, charities, and other private organizations often aid people and families who need it.
Investing in interdisciplinary teams
By utilizing professionals specializing in different areas, care is tailored to the population’s needs and focuses on a holistic approach. Interdisciplinary teams may include social workers, mental health professionals, nurses, medical professionals, and community members with diverse backgrounds and experiences.
These teams look at the individual from various perspectives to ensure the addressing of all needs and that care is individualized. Investing in the group helps to facilitate collaboration, efficiency, and quality of care, resulting in better outcomes for the population.
Fostering a patient-centered approach
Fostering a patient-centered approach empowers individuals to make informed decisions about their healthcare, with providers acting as facilitators. This approach includes honoring patient preferences for treatments and medications while considering the patient’s values and cultural practices that affect healthcare decisions.
Specialized populations cared for under this approach might include vulnerable people who may require additional resources and support to access timely and quality healthcare.
A patient-centered approach emphasizes respect, compassion, and safety. Providers should consider patients’ input when making treatment decisions and engage in open dialogue about treatment goals and available resources.
Educating care providers on cultural competency
Cultural competency is the ability to not only appreciate and respect a person’s culture and worldview but also to recognize a person’s individual needs and requirements to provide appropriate, inclusive, and effective healthcare services.
By educating providers on cultural competency, they can better understand and appreciate the unique needs and requirements of individuals and their cultures. It enables them to provide more holistic and comprehensive care tailored to each unique patient’s experience.
It includes understanding language and communication barriers, building trust and positive relationships, respecting a patient’s spiritual, physical, and psychological needs, and understanding the implications of cultural practices.
This knowledge can help providers better address the needs of diverse patients, facilitate better health outcomes, and reduce health disparities.
Fostering trust and communication
Fostering trust and communication emphasizes developing meaningful, trusting relationships with those who have unique needs. It means that practitioners must take the time to understand the special interests and beliefs of the individuals they care for.
This approach can also include providing education, understanding, and acceptance of the person’s lifestyle and needs and empowering them to advocate for themselves.
Practitioners will form lasting bonds when trust and communication are integrated into the care of specialized populations. They will be able to respond to the needs of the individual with respect, dignity, and genuine care.
Involving the community
By engaging the surrounding community, it is possible to offer holistic support that extends beyond the specialized population to meet its full needs. Engagement by local leaders, businesses, churches, schools, and other organizations can help individuals in a technological population access resources they might otherwise be unable to obtain.
It can create opportunities for those in the specialized population to participate in meaningful social and recreational activities, develop skills, and strengthen relationships with support networks. Community involvement can promote greater understanding through awareness and education.
Final thoughts
Specialized populations get services from technical medical care teams, including medical and nursing personnel, social workers, physical and occupational therapists, nutritionists, and other healthcare providers.
These teams can provide specialized care for these populations through comprehensive and personalized care plans tailored to the individual’s specific needs. Care for these specialized populations typically involves a multidisciplinary approach that addresses physical, mental, and emotional needs and provides social and spiritual support.
Improving access to care and adequate support is also crucial for these specialized populations. Various organizations are there to provide outreach and education to help ensure they receive the necessary assistance.
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