VulnerABLE: Improving the health of those in isolated and vulnerable situations
This European initiative shall increase our understanding of how best to improve the health of people who are living in vulnerable and isolated situations across Europe.
The project targets specific vulnerable and isolated populations such as children and families from disadvantaged backgrounds; those living in rural/isolated areas; those with physical, mental and learning disabilities or poor mental health; the long-term unemployed; the inactive; the 'in-work poor'; older people; victims of domestic violence and intimate partner violence; people with unstable housing situations (the homeless); and prisoners.
The project targets specific vulnerable and isolated populations such as children and families from disadvantaged backgrounds; those living in rural/isolated areas; those with physical, mental and learning disabilities or poor mental health; the long-term unemployed; the inactive; the 'in-work poor'; older people; victims of domestic violence and intimate partner violence; people with unstable housing situations (the homeless); and prisoners.
Due to their circumstances, these groups may be more at risk of poor health and/or face barriers in accessing healthcare services. The project will assess their particular health needs and challenges, as well as identify best practices to support them and ultimately improve their health.
Over its two-year lifetime, the 'VulnerABLE' project will involve:
- Interviews with individuals and organisations who work first-hand in the field of health inequalities (such as the World Health Organisation and local authority networks);
- Detailed research into the health needs of people in isolated and vulnerable situations, including a face-to-face survey and in-depth focus groups with them;
- Bringing together the leading thinkers in this area and enabling them to contribute to future strategies to prevent isolation and vulnerability;
- Training materials and capacity-building workshops for national and regional authorities who are active in delivering healthcare services and who have a vital role to play in tackling health inequalities;
- Regular news updates, direct communication with experts and a one-day conference to spread awareness of the project's findings amongst national and regional authorities; public health experts; health professionals; and other non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
Asking the experts - focus groups offer insights into the health needs of vulnerable people
VulnerABLE held eight focus groups in Brussels, London, Athens and Marseilles, bringing together academics, medical practitioners, national and European non-governmental organisations, and key health organisations, such as the World Health Organisation and the European Federation of National Organisations Working with the Homeless.
Participants exchanged ideas on the health needs of the eight vulnerable groups mentioned below and the main barriers affecting their access to healthcare. They put forward suggestions on the most effective ways of supporting those target groups. An emerging theme from all the focus groups is the importance of engaging with target groups at all stages of service, policy design and implementation to ensure that their needs are really met.
Other key findings:
- A holistic approach drawing on health, education and employment policy is necessary to improve the health of children and families from disadvantaged backgrounds.
- Rural doctors and policy makers are starting to adopt more creative strategies such as mobile health units, screening services, and e-prescriptions to reach patients in rural/isolated areas.
- Campaigns and the media can be effective tools in raising awareness, avoiding stigma and changing society’s perceptions of those with physical, mental and learning disabilities or poor mental health.
- Health-related training should be provided for all professionals who work with the long-term unemployed, the inactive and, the ‘in-work poor’, to inform these groups about their health rights, prevention and available primary health services.
- Creating ‘age friendly environments’ can maintain the independency and mobility of older people, for example ‘dementia-friendly municipalities’ where there is an awareness of dementia across all services such as supermarkets, retailers and transport.
- Effective training programmes support doctors to identify and respond to individuals who have experienced domestic and intimate partner violence.
- Peer-to-peer networks and interaction between people in different types of accommodation can empower homeless people and improve their health.
- Human rights principles should underpin the treatment of prisoners, such as ensuring prisoners' rights to privacy, person-centred care and adequate patient choice over their treatment.
The findings from the focus groups, along with results from the project's survey and literature review, will be used to develop capacity-building sessions for regional and national authorities, offering practical guidance on how to support vulnerable groups in policy decisions.