They are not as interested in tending to potential problems and going to doctors appointments when their homes and community are damaged or destroyed. In the coming months and years things will normalize and people will return to pre-hurricane activities, but for now the post-hurricane cleanup is something with which health care providers and health educators will simply have to deal. The other factor that is a barrier to learning is the geographic isolation of Red Hook, because it is tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the main part of the city. That can leave the people somewhat forgotten when it comes to their needs.
One of the most important issues has to do with the health education outcomes (McKenzie, Neiger, & Thackeray, 2009). There are two of these, and they are getting the population back to pre-hurricane levels of care, and then moving them beyond that point to better care for the elderly and more education for the younger generation to help reduce the number of unwed and/or teenage pregnancies. There are health indicators and behaviors that have to be changed to help this group, including better education on the value and use of birth control, and more care options for elderly people who do not want to leave their homes but may still have some trouble caring for themselves. The specific health education plan that will be used is educational information in schools and other places where young people congregate, as well as information provided to the community regarding the elderly. Flyers, radio, newspapers, and TV can be used to reach elderly people and their caretakers...
The plan will reduce risk and promote the health of the group by giving older people more assistance options and reducing the healthcare burden of young, unwed mothers.
In order to see if the plan is working, it can be assessed by the number of births to teenage and/or unwed mothers, and the number of elderly people who begin to receive care services in their homes vs. The number who were previously doing so. This will not be an overnight change, but over time the change will come. In order to reduce risk in the population of Red Hook, though, other services would still be needed. These would include more
caregivers for the elderly people who need them, along with
education programs for these caregivers. Additionally, just telling young people to use protection may not be enough. Providing that protection in designated places free of charge may be required in the future in order to help lower the risks to the population and reduce the number of young women who have
children out of wedlock.
References
Brockwell, S., Kilminster, F. & Starr, A. (2009). Red Hook Community Health Assessment.
Hunter College Department of Urban Affairs and Planning, Issued 22 May, 2009.
Retrieved from http://www.brooklyncb6.org/_attachments/2009-05-
22%20RHI%20Red%20Hook%20Houses%20Health%20Assessment.pdf
HealthyPeople.Gov (2013). Educational and community-based programs. Retrieved from http://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topicsobjectives2020/overview.aspx?topicid=11
McKenzie, J., Neiger, B., & Thackeray, R. (2009). Planning, Implementing, & Evaluating Health Promotion Programs. 5th edition.
San Francisco, CA: Pearson Education, Inc.
