Chapter 23: Poverty And Homelessness

Question 1

Cultural Attitudes

Answer 1

Are the beliefs and perspectives that a society values

Question 2

Media

Answer 2

Communicates thoughts and attitudes through literature, film, art, television and newspapers.

Question 3

To understand poverty, homelessness, mental illness, and teen pregnancy, consider

Answer 3

your personal beliefs and attitudes, clients’ perceptions of their condition, and the social, political, cultural, and environmental factors that influence the client’s situation.

Question 4

The definition of poverty

Answer 4

Varies depending on the source.

Question 5

The federal government defines poverty on the basis of

Answer 5

income, family size, age of the head of household, and number of children younger than 18 years

Question 6

Those who are poor insist that poverty

Answer 6

has less to do with income and more to do with a lack of family, friends, love, and support.

Question 7

Persistent poverty

Answer 7

refers to individuals and families who remain poor for long periods and who pass poverty on to their descendants.

Question 8

Neighborhood poverty u

Answer 8

refers to geographically defined areas of high poverty, characterized by dilapidated housing and high levels of unemployment.

Question 9

Factors affecting the growing number of poor persons

Answer 9

Decreased earnings
Increased unemployment rates
Changes in the labor force
Increase in female-headed households
Inadequate education and job skills
Inadequate antipoverty programs and welfare benefits
Weak enforcement of child support statutes
Dwindling Social Security payments to children
Increased numbers of children born to single women

Question 10

Effects of Poverty across the lifespan

Answer 10

Higher rates of chronic illness
Higher infant morbidity and mortality
Shorter life expectancy
More complex health problems
More significant complications and physical limitations resulting from chronic disease
Hospitalization rates three times more than for persons with higher incomes

Question 11

Poverty has an especially negative effect on

Answer 11

Women of childbearing age
Adolescent women
Children
Older adults
Both urban and rural communities

Question 12

Two common ways to determine the number of people who are homeless are:

Answer 12

1. Point-in-time-counts

2. Period Prevalence counts

Question 13

Point-in-time-counts

Answer 13

Counting the number of people who are homeless on a given day or during a given week.

Question 14

Period prevalence counts

Answer 14

Examines the number of people who are homeless over a given period of time

Question 15

Effects of Homelessness of Health

Answer 15

Hypothermia and heat-related illnesses
Infestations and poor skin integrity
Peripheral vascular disease and hypertension
Diabetes and nutritional deficits
Respiratory infection and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases
Tuberculosis (TB)
HIV/AIDS
Trauma
Mental illness
Use and abuse of tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drugs

Question 16

Homelessness and At-risk populations

Answer 16

Pregnant women
Children
Adolescents
Older adults

Question 17

Primary prevention services include

Answer 17

affordable housing, housing subsidies, effective job-training programs, employer incentives, preventive health care services, multisystem case management, needle-exchange programs, and counseling programs.

Question 18

Secondary prevention activities are aimed at

Answer 18

reducing the prevalence of pathologic nature of a condition (e.g., supportive and emergency housing, soup kitchens).

Question 19

Tertiary prevention attempts to

Answer 19

restore and enhance functioning (i.e., support of affordable housing, promotion of psychosocial rehabilitation programs).

Question 20

Role of the Nurse

Answer 20

Create a trusting environment.
Show respect, compassion, and concern.
Do not make assumptions.
Coordinate a network of services and providers.
Advocate for accessible health care services.
Focus on prevention.
Know when to walk beside the client and when to encourage the client to walk ahead.
Develop a network of support for yourself.