Society and health

Key issues for society

You will gain an understanding of:

Absolute and relative poverty Causes and effects of poverty Patterns of employment and

unemployment Leisure Homelessness Housing options

Recap of key issues for society:

What do the following mean?

1) Cycle of deprivation 2) Stigma 3) Poverty trap 4) Absolute poverty 5) Relative poverty 6) Deprivation 7) Squalor 8) Scape-goating

Key issues

Poverty- Absolute- state at which it is not possible to live, Relative- resources are below average.

Causes of poverty- Cycle of deprivation- born into it, dependency on the state,

unemployment, lack of education, childcare costs, homelessness, elderly, sick or disabled, the poverty trap- stuck in it, cant get out.

Effects of poverty- Deprivation, lack of leisure pursuits, stigma, inadequate

housing- squalor, ill health, locality- deprived neighbourhood, strain on individuals and relationships, finances- limited money available to them, social exclusion from society.

Groups at risk- Unemployed, low paid, single parents, sick and disabled,

elderly, young teenagers who have left home, ethnic minorities, poorly educated and illiterate.

ACTIVITY 5- page 24

Benefits of employment:

List them:

Effects of unemployment on an individual:

List them:

Cont……..

Employment and unemployment; Benefits of employment- confidence, self respect, enjoyment,

new skills, financial security, social relationships, leisure time. Patterns- factors influencing this- education, age, gender,

technology, contracts- part time and temporary, immigrants, job type, self employment.

Groups vulnerable to unemployment- young people, ethnic minorities, disabled, lone parents, individuals over 50- age discrimination.

Effects of unemployment- lack of self respect and identity, social stigma, lack of confidence, no financial security, no enjoyment, lack of social relationships.

Effects of unemployment on society- more social problems, decline in the local economy, conflict, demand on health services and welfare benefits, insecurity, scapegoating (blaming), lower aspirations.

Activity 8- page 30

Cont….

Support services available to unemployed- Jobseekers allowance Income support (16-59 year olds who cannot work) Housing benefit Job grants.

Government employment schemes- work-based learning for adults, job clubs, work trials, training schemes, apprenticeships, new deal- support to find work.

Activity 9- page 31

Cont…

Leisure- Time left over after work and domestic

chores to do whatever you choose. 3 main constraints affect leisure- time,

available income and facilities available. Recent trends- more unemployed watch

TV compared to educated people, increase in people taking holidays, participation in sport- more with youngsters, women have less leisure time than men due to household responsibility.

Changing patterns of leisure in the UK.

Dependant on the following factors:

Employment- hours left after work to participate in leisure pursuits

Age- determines what leisure pursuits are carried out Gender Dependant children- do they need looking after? Education- knowledge of what leisure pursuit is most

useful Income- can you afford it? Time available- time rich, money poor- unemployed. Location- facilities available Holidays- are they frequent? Depends on job.

Cont..

Housing and homelessness; Homeless means having no home or haven. Local authorities have an obligation to find

accommodation for- pregnant women, people with dependant children, those who are old, mentally or physically ill, those who have lost their home, or have vulnerable people in their household.

Causes of homelessness- eviction, loss of employment, health problems, unable to be accommodated by parents or other, breakdown of relationship, rent/mortgage arrears, emergency-fire/flooding, limited housing supplies.

Effects of homelessness- difficulty in obtaining services if you do not have an address, low self esteem, boredom, lack of privacy, lack of relationships, development of diseases especially in children.

Activity 15- page 36.

Housing

Types; Flat, house, bungalow.

Housing options; Rent- Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) are independent

and non-profit making, provided by Council. Rent- Private landlords- own property, rent out and make

profit. Buy- mortgage loan from a bank/building society- 25 years.

Repossession occurs if you fall behind with payments. You now need a 25% deposit if you are buying your own home.

What is the difference between a repayment and an interest only mortgage?

Do you think it is better to buy a house or rent a house- give reasons?

Continued….

Housing tenure- describes the type of property held or lived in, owner occupied or rented.

Home-buy schemes- help people to buy a house. Identify these- page 39-40

Design of housing

Find out what the lifetime homes standards is? Page 41

Housing designs for individuals and households, dependent on target user:

Families with young children Students Families with dependant older members Physically disabled Single person

Identify the housing types suitable for these groups.

Life time homes standards

These standards are set out in Designing lifetime homes (Joseph Rowntree Foundation 1999)

Key requirements cover car parking, entrances, services and layout of home.

Standard width for car parking space is 2400mm Distance from car parking to home should be minimal. Entrance to housing should be level or gently sloping. Communal stairs should offer easy access. Lifts accessible to a wheelchair. Width of doorways should accommodate wheelchair,

and space for stair lift. Living room and other windows low and easy to operate

Effective management of resources

Management of fuel energy- cavity wall insulation, external wall insulation, floor insulation, loft insulation, draught proofing, hot water tank insulation, double and triple glazing, heating- thermostats.

Management of time- working hours, time to do jobs. Is their any dependables in the household that need looking after before household chores?

Management of money- mortgage/rent, gas, electricity, water, contents and buildings insurance, council tax.

Community facilities and amenities

Transport- train station, bus service Medical services- doctors, dentists,

optician, pharmacist Shopping- supermarkets, corner shop Schools- Primary and Secondary Leisure- swimming pool, gym, park

Exam questions- page 49