Disability In Health Care

Healthcare Reform: Disability.
Healthcare programs have always been essential parts of the larger concept of communal health. Over the years, various programs and policies have always been put in place to try and look into the welfare of health and social work. One apparent need for social care and health is in relation to the element of disability and the subsequent inability to work. Most disabled individuals miss work opportunities due to their conditions. This should not be the case, particularly, considering that Stephen Hawking, one of the greatest scientific minds on earth, is actually disabled. This then leads to the need to integrate disability and proper healthcare management. This need, as it was noted in the mid-20th century, led

to the establishment of programs and policies that cater for the necessities of the disabled and the working force who have some form of disability (Carr and Beresford, 2011). Technically, the need for a disability oversight program is in line with that for equality and fairness in the provision of health and social care services. The care and health of workforce with disabilities has always been subject to various social care issues since most legislative measures and policies did not care for their wellbeing. Consequently, this necessitated for the need for a well-elaborated program that focuses on delimiting the various facets of disability and compensation programs, especially for the adult workforce.
The need to provide help to working age disabled individuals has always been existing towards the periphery in most social care systems. It is worth noting that social care is by a large extent an extension of healthcare provision, especially with regards to the disabled (Mechanic, 2005). Initially, this group was not catered for due to various issues, mainly involving the apparent contention in the true definition of a disability (Mechanic, 2005). Additionally, the social, economic and political structure of the time was not structured well enough to cater for the needs of such individuals. This meant that the general conceptualization of the disabled workforce could not be clearly be defined during the early stages of the issue. Additionally, the need for equality in the various facets of the society was not particularly expounded during the early stages of developing policies. This refers to the period between the 50s and 60s, when most policies and programs that cater for minority groups were being adopted (Moonie, 2000). Due to the increasingly rising need, authorities and other stakeholders felt the need to cater for the working age disabled adults. Consequently, this led to the establishment of programs such as Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), which was aimed towards assisting the disabled workforce through predefined compensation and insurance provisions. After the introduction of this policy in this area, the needs of the disabled working adults started to be met gradually with each subsequent change that was adopted into the program. Prior to this, the working age disabled adults faced numerous challenges since there were not any specific programs aimed towards their welfare (Carr and Beresford, 2011). This meant that they were catered for under the programs that were meant for the regular worker. This violated the element of equality and fairness, thereby necessitating the need for an urgent intervention.
Disability is an issue in healthcare due to the dynamic nature that characterizes it. It exists in many different forms, and this makes it difficult to specifically identify its forms and formulate policies for its management. While it is often overlooked in most instances, this is not the best approach since it leads to other complications that eventually clog the healthcare management systems. The effects of the issue are compounded by the fact that most people still do not view it as a problem in the same manner that problems such as end-of-life issues are viewed (Moonie. 2000). This results in neglect and lack of consideration when formulating programs and policies. This compound the problem since neglect only leads to an increase in its occurrence, therefore stifling the workforce and resulting in a higher number of dependents. Consequently, the existing programs get overwhelmed, thus, leading to more and more funds being allocated to it. Overall, this state of counter-effects results in a situation where healthcare management is divided between the numerous issues resulting in a strain on the system (Carr and Beresford, 2011). Therefore, by restructuring the disability management policies, the strain on the healthcare management systems is bound to be reduced, and this would inevitably improve healthcare provisions and facilitate a healthier society.
While disability takes many forms, most people only identify the physical forms.

Though this is the most visible, it is also the least demanding to manage. Therefore, the other form of disability, mental or intellectual, is the most contentious and demanding in terms of healthcare management. By various accounts, mental forms of disability are often equal to retardation, which may result in stigmatization of the affected individuals (Mechanic, 2005). Nonetheless, this is fairly on the decline due to sensitization and awareness on issues regarding disability. One of the main issues that affect healthcare provisions and management concerning disability is some different forms that it exists under. Existing programs tend to become out-dated fast due to the dynamic nature of disability, as one form can easily change the way it is manifested over a period of two years (Nola, 2005). Due to lack of scrutiny and insight into the issue, it becomes a constant struggle for the programs to solve the problems associated with various forms of disability. Healthcare management also has to face the challenge of effective communication with individuals suffering from different forms of disabilities. It may not be easy, as they require specialised clinicians and health practitioners to fully understand their needs. Disability affects healthcare on so many levels that it is almost impossible to outline them all. Healthcare setting for dealing with people with disabilities are also so

specialised that they cannot be used for any other healthcare issue (Moonie, 2000). This means that less prevalent forms of disability are usually left out because it is not viable to set up a whole department or program for an issue that affects only a limited number of people. This then leads to the affected group claiming negligence and favouritism in the provision of healthcare services. Overall, disability is wide and very dynamic in nature (Mechanic, 2005).
Healthcare management is all about the coordination and effective implementation of policies designed to facilitate proper provision of healthcare services. The issue of disability is important since it results in situations where the stakeholders have to evaluate proper criteria for defining disability in such a way that no one feels left behind. Moreover, it is important to ensure that the programs do not come in the way of other healthcare provision policies. Through effective integration of the disabled into the workforce, they will be able to support themselves. This will reduce the burden on healthcare funding (Mechanic, 2005). Funds allocated towards the disabled can gradually be redirected to other programs over time, subsequently improving the healthcare settings. On surface view, this may not seem like much but concerning healthcare management, there is so much involved that the ability to structure a mechanism for self-sustenance is one of the best approaches to the issue of disability. One of the most important ways of solving any recurrent problems is developing a system where the problem can be effectively handled without any chances for re-evaluation (Mechanic, 2005). Once the disabled are in a position to cater for themselves, then the health issues associated with disability are solved in the sense that the individuals will be self-reliant, and will not need to be incorporated into healthcare management systems anymore.
In conclusion, the aspects of health and social care are directly related, and each is an extension of the other.

While there are numerous facets of social care in the contemporary society, the working age disabled adults still form a major group that has to be considered. With a continued widening in the scope of disability, it is continually becoming a problem in healthcare management and settings. This, then, leads to the need for reform in the way that the issue is viewed in the society. Additionally, the various reforms that have been put in place for this program show progress towards improving the welfare of the target group even further. Though challenges are constantly met in the course of catering for this group, the right strategy can easily counter these to ensure the best service. Hence, this will lead to the realization of an elaborate health and social care system able to deliver, particularly in the diverse contemporary

society.