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