Moving to Beijing to Take Care of My Child with a Chronic Disease: How does it Change My Identity?

More Chinese individuals have travelled to major urban centers, such as Beijing, in the last decade in search of better medical care for their very ill children. These patients are frequently desperate and unable to pay their medical bills. The new position that they adopt to will almost certainly have an impact on their identity during this process. As a result, the goal of this research is to learn how to better support them and how they deal with outside pressure. As a volunteer with the Children’s Hope Foundation, the author has access to these families and can set up in-depth interviews with six distinct respondents. Data would also come from the author’s previous observations of these groups. Finally, the “caregiver identity” influences migrants’ decision-making in Beijing for their children. Emotional and mental stress are also caused by the identity. It has, however, become the character they play to deal with their current issues.

COVID-19 Related Experiences Among College Students With and Without Disabilities: Psychosocial Impacts, Supports, and Virtual Learning Environments

This cross-sectional analysis estimated differences, based on disability status, in college students' (n = 777) experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were modeled using t-tests and logistic regression. Most participants were white (86.2%), and women (66.4%). The mode age was 23. A third (35.6%) had at least one disability. Students reported high rates of psychosocial distress, like fear of contracting (59.7%) and spreading (74.3%) COVID-19, worry about friends and family (83.7%), and increased anxiety (72.5%), depression (59.9%), and substance use (24.7%). Forty-two percent (42.2%) were scared they would miss out on their education through virtual classes. About a third feared forgetting assignments (34.1%) and making mistakes (33.9%). Fewer students expressed apprehension about (27.9%) and intimidation by (26.3%) virtual learning. Only 17.2% would continue taking virtual classes after the pandemic. Students with disabilities (M = 12.4, SD = 4.1) experienced more psychosocial stressors compared to students without disabilities (M = 9.9, SD = 4.2), [t(775) = 7.86, p < 0.001]. In adjusted models, disabled students were more than twice as likely to experience worry about medical bills (OR = 2.29), loneliness (OR = 2.09), and increased anxiety (OR = 2.31). They were also more than three times as likely to report increased depression (OR = 3.51) and changes in sexual activity (OR = 3.12). However, students with disabilities (M = 1.5, SD = 1.1) also reported receiving more support compared to their non-disabled classmates (M = 1.1, SD = 1.1), [t(775) = 6.06, p < 0.001]. Disabled students were more likely to feel a sense of contributing to society by following precautions (OR = 1.80) and receive support from family and others (emotional support: OR = 2.01, financial support: OR = 2.04). Interestingly, no significant differences were found in students' feelings associated with online or virtual learning [t(526.08) = 0.42, p = 0.68]. Students with disabilities, though, trended toward reporting negative experiences with virtual learning. In conclusion, students with disabilities were disproportionately affected by COVID-19 stressors, but also expressed more support and a sense of contributing to the common good.

Planting Seeds: For a Food Secure Future

<p>Food insecurity affects a large number of young New Zealanders every day. It is associated with low-income families and exists when people do not have access to enough healthy food, experience hunger, consume less nutritious foods due to limited options or rely on food relief and banks (Dastgheib). In New Zealand, there is a rising concern for food insecurity among adolescents. In 2012, 11% of young people reported food insecurity often or always, with 33% reporting food insecurity concerns occasionally (this being a 3% and 5% increase from 2007) (Utter, Izumi and Denny). Other issues are the increasing rates of obesity and other health concerns. (Stevenson, Growing Healthy Communities 37). The New Zealand population has one of the highest levels of obesity in the world, and this is a reflection of food insecurity and poverty (Thomas and Hunt). When families are food insecure, they are more likely to turn to the ease and affordability of fast food and highly processed food for their meals (Utter, Izumi and Denny). However, a diet based on fast-food has a low nutritious value and may generate a vicious cycle of obesity. An unhealthy meal reduces the amount of energy and motivation someone has (Cespedes). When adolescents consume a high level of fast food, the motivation to work is decreased, leading to lower grades, suspension and unemployment later in life (Government of South Australia; Gorton 3). In addition to this, their health and wellbeing are threatened, and medical bills can rise significantly producing a cycle of poverty (Todd). This research proposal will try to break the cycle of food security and poverty by providing families with an alternative choice to fast-food and takeaways. A pavilion is designed for Otara, Auckland, which combines the programme of a church, greenhouse and a community kitchen to encourage a healthy lifestyle. It will be located near Ferguson Intermediate and provide the facilities and environment to help individuals overcome food insecurity in their households.</p>

Planting Seeds: For a Food Secure Future

<p>Food insecurity affects a large number of young New Zealanders every day. It is associated with low-income families and exists when people do not have access to enough healthy food, experience hunger, consume less nutritious foods due to limited options or rely on food relief and banks (Dastgheib). In New Zealand, there is a rising concern for food insecurity among adolescents. In 2012, 11% of young people reported food insecurity often or always, with 33% reporting food insecurity concerns occasionally (this being a 3% and 5% increase from 2007) (Utter, Izumi and Denny). Other issues are the increasing rates of obesity and other health concerns. (Stevenson, Growing Healthy Communities 37). The New Zealand population has one of the highest levels of obesity in the world, and this is a reflection of food insecurity and poverty (Thomas and Hunt). When families are food insecure, they are more likely to turn to the ease and affordability of fast food and highly processed food for their meals (Utter, Izumi and Denny). However, a diet based on fast-food has a low nutritious value and may generate a vicious cycle of obesity. An unhealthy meal reduces the amount of energy and motivation someone has (Cespedes). When adolescents consume a high level of fast food, the motivation to work is decreased, leading to lower grades, suspension and unemployment later in life (Government of South Australia; Gorton 3). In addition to this, their health and wellbeing are threatened, and medical bills can rise significantly producing a cycle of poverty (Todd). This research proposal will try to break the cycle of food security and poverty by providing families with an alternative choice to fast-food and takeaways. A pavilion is designed for Otara, Auckland, which combines the programme of a church, greenhouse and a community kitchen to encourage a healthy lifestyle. It will be located near Ferguson Intermediate and provide the facilities and environment to help individuals overcome food insecurity in their households.</p>

Older Americans With Disability Are Vulnerable to Economic and Food Insecurity During COVID-19

This study investigated whether older Americans with physical disability were vulnerable to three types of economic insecurity (difficulty paying regular bills, difficulty paying medical bills, income loss) and two types of food insecurity (economic obstacles, logistical obstacles) during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. We evaluated the extent to which associations are moderated by three personal characteristics (age, sex, race/ethnicity) and two pandemic-specific risk factors (job loss, COVID-19 diagnosis). Data were from a random 25 percent subsample of the Health and Retirement Study participants who completed a COVID-19 module administered in 2020. Our analytic sample included 3,166 adults aged 51 and older. We estimated logistic regression models to document the odds of experiencing each hardship. Persons with three or more functional limitations reported significantly higher odds of both types of food insecurity, and difficulty paying regular and medical bills, relative to those with no limitations. After controlling for health conditions, effects were no longer significant for paying medical bills, and attenuated yet remained statistically significant for other outcomes. Patterns did not differ significantly on the basis of the moderator variables. Older adults with more functional limitations are vulnerable to economic and food insecurity during the pandemic, potentially exacerbating the physical and emotional health threats imposed by the pandemic. Our findings reveal an urgent need to promote policies and procedures to protect older adults with disability from economic and food insecurity. Supports for older adults with disability should focus on logistical as well as financial support for ensuring food security.

Past experiences with surprise medical bills drive issue knowledge, concern and attitudes toward federal policy intervention

Scholars and journalists have devoted considerable attention to understanding the circumstances in which Americans receive surprise medical bills. Previous research on this issue has focused on the scope of the problem, including the conditions that are most likely to lead to surprise bills. However, the existing literature has almost exclusively relied on claims data, limiting our understanding of consumer experiences and attitudes toward policy changes to address surprise billing. Using a survey administered to a nationally representative sample of 4998 Americans, we analyze consumer experiences with surprise billing, knowledge of the issue, how concerned Americans are about receiving surprise bills and how past experiences influence policy preferences toward federal action on surprise billing. Our analysis demonstrates that knowledge and concern about surprise billing are the highest among the educated and those who have previously received a surprise bill. These factors also predict support for federal policy action, with high levels of support for federal policy action across the population, including among both liberals and conservatives. However, more detailed federal policy proposals receive significantly less support among Americans, suggesting that stand-alone policy action may not be viable. Our results show bipartisan support among American consumers for federal action on surprise billing in the abstract but no consistent views on specific policy proposals.

Physical Disability and Older Adults’ Perceived Food and Economic Insecurity During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Objectives We examined whether older adults with physical disability were vulnerable to three types of perceived economic insecurity (difficulty paying regular bills, difficulty paying medical bills, income loss) and two types of perceived food insecurity (economic obstacles, logistical obstacles) during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. We evaluated the extent to which associations are moderated by three personal characteristics (age, sex, race/ethnicity) and two pandemic-specific risk factors (job loss, COVID-19 diagnosis). Methods Data are from a random 25 percent subsample of Health and Retirement Study (HRS) participants who completed a COVID-19 module introduced in June 2020. We estimated logistic regression models to predict each of five self-reported hardships during the pandemic. Results Bivariate analyses showed that persons with three or more functional limitations were more likely to report both types of food insecurity, and difficulty paying regular and medical bills since the start of the pandemic, relative to those with no limitations. After controlling for health conditions, effects were no longer significant for paying medical bills, and attenuated yet remained statistically significant for other outcomes. Patterns did not differ significantly on the basis of the moderator variables. Job loss substantially increased the risk of economic insecurity but not food insecurity. Discussion Older adults with more functional limitations were vulnerable to economic and food insecurity during the pandemic, potentially exacerbating the physical and emotional health threats imposed by COVID-19. Supports for older adults with disability should focus on logistical as well as financial support for ensuring their food security.

Health care Affordability and Associated Concerns Among Adults Aged 65 and above in Florida

Objective: This study assessed affordability of care in a diverse sample of Floridians aged ≥ 65 to ascertain concerns about health care costs. Methods: We surveyed 170 adults (40.6% white, 27.6% black, and 31.8% Hispanic) and conducted three race/ethnic-stratified focus groups ( n = 27). Results: Most participants had Medicare (97.1%). Among whites, 11.6% reported problems paying medical bills in the past 12 months versus 14.9% of blacks and 24.1% of Hispanics. In addition, 13% of whites, 19.2% of blacks, and 20.4% of Hispanics reported not getting needed prescription drugs because of costs. The most frequently identified concerns from the focus groups were the cost of prescription drugs, out-of-pocket expenses, and medical billing. Concerns about medical billing included understanding bills, transparency, timely postings, and uncertainty about who to contact about problems. Discussion: Our findings suggest that practices that help older adults effectively manage medical bills and costs may alleviate their concerns and guard against financial burdens.