Influence of Social and Cultural Factors on Healthcare Abuse

This report focuses on safeguarding within health and social care, examining the influence of social and cultural factors on various types of abuse, including social exclusion, health abuse, discrimination, ethnicity, and poverty. It analyzes these factors in the context of a case study involving an elderly woman with Alzheimer's and her interactions with her family and healthcare providers. The report then proposes possible improvements to working practices and strategies to minimize abuse, such as counseling sessions, effective communication, free health services, government support, whistleblowing strategies, education campaigns, and physical exercises. These strategies aim to address the complex needs of vulnerable individuals and promote a safer and more supportive environment within health and social care settings. The report concludes with a list of cited references, providing a comprehensive overview of the topic.

Safeguarding in Health and
Social Care

TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.3 Analysis of the influence of social and cultural factors on various types of abuses and
harm to self and others...........................................................................................................1
3.3 Possible improvements to working practices and strategies to minimise abuse in health
and social care........................................................................................................................2
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................4

1.3 Analysis of the influence of social and cultural factors on various types of abuses and harm to
self and others
Social Exclusion: Excluding or isolating the person suffering from physical and mental
illness is not at all correct as it disturbs the emotional stability of patient which is not good for
recovery. Like in case of Bella, her son and daughter in law are sending her to old age home for
better care and emotional support but according to Bella, they are throwing her out of the house
and isolating from society for the sake of their reputation.
Health abuse: This demonstrates that the practitioner should not abuse the health and
situation of service users (Emerson and et.al., 2012). Like in case of Bella, she is suffering from
Alzheimer due to which she goes through various internal changes because of which she
sometimes becomes aggressive, violent, etc. and therefore, it is important for society and nurses
to understand the situation of person and treat her with love and care instead of neglecting.
Discrimination: Person suffering from mental and physical disability can be
discriminated instead it is important for society and family to take appropriate measures to make
the personnel feel comfortable (Clark, 2011). Like in case of Bella, she was weak and therefore,
not able to mingle up with society which made her feel alone and neglected. Moreover, when she
was not able to work for son and daughter in law, some change in their behaviour was noticed by
her which by which she got disturbed and became angry as well as more depressed.
Ethnicity: Abusing and torturing people suffering from physical and mental illness is not
acceptable in society as it can harm the patient but still the practice is going on. Considering the
right and wrong of ethical value assist the person in determining behaviours towards individual
like Bella.
Poverty and Housing: This is the major factor which has been experienced by Bella due
to her poor health. In this, she was suffering from Alzheimer but still she was unable to take
appropriate treatment due to poor financial conditions and moreover, her son and daughter in law
were forcing her to shift to old age which is not appropriate as the patient needs attention and
care from family.
3.3 Possible improvements to working practices and strategies to minimise abuse in health and
social care
 It is important for the health care centre to organize different counselling sessions for
patients like Bella in order to motivate and boost their morale. It is beneficial in such
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cases as the session assists health care practitioner to improve the skills of handing
patients suffering with physical and mental disability.
 Effective communication is the strategy which develops spirit of living in individual and
fighting with her own health problems (Liveng, 2010). Isolating people suffering from
Alzheimer like Bella makes the individual aggressive and angry. Therefore, it is
important for the person to communicate with patient in order to make them analyse their
importance in society.
 Organizing camps in which free health services to people are provided suffering with
poor well-being is the best method to implement in care practices eradicating system of
financial abuse for patients like Bella.
 Government can provide support to people suffering from physical and mental diseases
and also, to individuals who suffer with poor health issues. The treatment and facilities
given by government like housing, medical aid and many more can prevent people from
physical and drug abuse.
 Whistle blowing strategies and legislation are effective methods which can be
implemented in the work practices of health and social care. Creation of risk assessment
measures such as proper monitoring and controlling over staff, appropriate medication,
timely diet routing, minimizing the influence of hazards can be caused due to ignorance
and discrimination at health care centre.
 Education campaign regarding diseases and its impacts should be organized in order to
motivate people like Bella as according to them, they have no right to live after getting
isolated from the society. On the other hand, campaign for society should be organized by
government or some particular group in order to make people aware about the diseases
and nature of people suffering from mental and physical illness (Lu and et.al., 2010).
 Physical exercises play a major role in controlling the disability of people like Bella.
Further, providing exercising sessions to patients suffering from illness and proper
monitoring prove to be one of the best ways to assist person in recovering. Hpwever,
organizing exercise programs will take time and they are expensive too but are highly
effective ways to boost the morale of individuals like Bella. Thus, it is an effectual way to
distract minds of people suffering from physical and mental disability.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Clark, M., 2011. Mental health care clusters and payment by results: considerations for social
inclusion and recovery. Mental Health and Social Inclusion. 15(2). pp. 71–77.
Emerson, E. and et.al., 2012. Improving health and lives: The Learning Disabilities Public
Health Observatory. Advances in Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities. 6(1). pp.
26–32.
Liveng, A., 2010. Learning and recognition in health and care work: an inter-subjective
perspective. Journal of Workplace Learning. 22(1/2). pp.41–52.
Lu, C. and et.al., 2010. Public financing of health in developing countries: A cross-national
systematic analysis. The Lancet. 375 (9723). pp. 1375–1387.
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