Social Experiences
During this class, students will engage in social experiences (some call these experiments), but we are not doing research, and this does not require IRB approval. Students will co-design social experiences as 20% of their grade.
Students will design experiences during the first month of class. Examples might include volunteering at a local soup kitchen, working in a shelter, observing people and families who are struggling with health, income, and social status, and thinking about solutions. Other ideas could include creating a budget and living according to it based on the federal poverty level/guidelines and journaling about it later.
Reviewing local policies and identifying gaps in current local policies, presenting recommendations to local leaders or policymakers.
Post your reflections and ideas about this assignment here as a blog. This can happen before you begin the experience, during, or after.
My experiment involved volunteering with my temple to cook and distribute food. Since we gave away the food that we cooked to two different populations of people, I had the opportunity to compare individuals in the lower class with jobs and those living in poverty with food and housing insecurities. One volunteer expedition included driving in several vans with my fellow volunteers to Virginia to a truck stop that allowed our presence and gifting. There, our experience was one-hundred percent positive. The truck drivers were very tired and stressed by their difficult job, and even with their pay, most were struggling to make ends meet. However, each one was delighted not only by the free meal but also by the fact that we had taken the time to prepare the food and to travel to find recipients. Most could not believe we were not charging them. Many of them offered or tried to insist that we accept money, but, of course, we did not. The other location for our giving away meals was at an exit to HWY 55 where many homeless people stand with signs and requests for donations. Seventy percent of the time, the people we met there were also appreciative, but about thirty percent were rude and angry, telling us they only wanted money and refusing our food. Reflecting on what I have learned in class, I thought about the difference employment makes in a person’s life. Furthermore, I thought about how individuals without access to quality education throughout their lives are at a significant disadvantage in the workforce. However, they have a better chance of survival and a sense of self-esteem and purpose if they are allowed access or provided with job training. The truck drivers were able to accept a gift because they knew they did not depend on gifts to survive. However, many of the individuals experiencing homelessness had been shut out of opportunities for education and job training and were, therefore, in despair. They could only see the hopelessness of their ever getting out of poverty and finding stable housing.
ReplyDeleteHi Surya, what an interesting experience! I find it fascinating the way you compared the two populations. I have thought about these types of things frequently, particularly when I see homeless people. The denial of food and preferring cash component is interesting. Thank you for sharing these comparisons and for the time you took to complete this much-needed volunteer work!
DeleteFor my experiment, I volunteered at my church's clothes closet. During this experience, I helped organize the clothes, helped people shop, and helped carry people's bags if they needed it. At this clothes closet, they have a big shopping event once a quarter. At this shopping event, 30 people come in at a time and they have about 20 minutes to shop and they are able to get 50 clothing items per family and one pair of shoes per person in their family. While volunteering here, people were shocked at how many clothing items that they could get and the variety of items that they could get. During this time volunteering, it shocked me just how many people came for clothes and also how far they came to get clothes. I was talking to a person and they said that they came 2 hours to get some winter clothes for them and their family members. When I was volunteering, it hit me just how much I take advantage of the fact that I can go out to the store and afford pretty much an clothing item that I wanted, but the people that are coming to this clothes closet do not have that ability. It also hit me that these people were so excited about getting clothes that were used, yet whenever I got hand-me-downs when I was younger I didn't want to wear them and I thought that it was gross to get someone else's used clothes. While I know that not everyone can afford the same things, I typically don't think about whether or not someone can afford something like clothes to keep them warm in the winter. This volunteering opportunity really made me think about how much I take advantage of the simple things that I have like food, clothes, etc.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing such an interesting experience! Thank you for the time you took to volunteer at a local clothes closet. You hit on something very important-we work to try and provide support, resources, food, and materials to a variety of populations. However, within those resources, we rarely ever consider clothes, particularly winter clothes, and importantly, school clothes for children or work clothes for adults, which are usually quite expensive. Thank you for sharing your experience and perspective! Great work!
DeleteLiving on the Edge: A Two-Week Meal Budget Experiment
ReplyDeleteMy blog post is based on a two-week experiment with budget meals for a household of five based on the federal poverty level (FPL). My goal was to explore the reality of food insecurity, highlight local policy gaps, and connect theoretical learnings from my class to practical experience. I chose this topic due to its insecurity significance pressed on health issues, and intent to understand/ experience physical impact. I adhered to the experiment with the aid of FPL guidelines for a two-week budget and was mindful of nutrition/ cost value. According to healthcare.gov, based on 2024 FPL for a family of five, their annual income is estimated to be $ 36,580, of which 10-15 % is 180 for two weeks allotted to food only. Considering the high price of food nowadays, for this big family I must admit that It’s hard to purchase proper nutrition for a family of five and serve three meals a day. My biggest challenge was the nutritional quality of the food I had to purchase. It was impossible to buy fresh vegetables, high-quality protein, and a variety of vegetables. Most meals served every day likely contained heavy carbs, leaving little room for balance and indulgence. Hence, the tight budget which required strict control resulted in occasional hunger/dissatisfaction after meals which led to social isolation from dining out, and the stressful emotional toll of dehumanizing and prioritizing affordability over nutrition or enjoyment. Though our government has been involved in so many ways to help many families with meals, a lot of families are left out without a choice to fill the gap themselves. Inadequate wage is a major challenge to food insecurity that is tied to systemic poverty, exacerbated by minimum wage's failure to keep pace with inflation. I highly recommend a policy that increases the advocacy for living wages and increases SNAP benefits to reflect the true cost of nutritious food. This experience vividly reflects how food insecurity marginalizes individuals as described in Young’s Five Faces of Oppression. It reminds me how I had to make hard choices to sacrifice variety, nutrition, and enjoyment to stay within my budget. This also resonates with the social economic determinants of health that limit food access and perpetuate poor health cycles and chronic conditions which are qualities of systemic inequalities. I also gained empathy for families leaving these conditions daily. This shows the urgent need for systemic change that is beyond charity-based solutions. I am also reminded that food insecurity problems in not just about hunger, it’s about the constant negotiations between dignity and survival. As a community of low-income families, we need policies that will empower and advocate for changes that promote equity and justice for all.
Poem
Apples or bananas one must stay, counting calories as funds slip away. Chicken for dinner, plain as can be, good health costs more than many can see. Hunger grows louder, dignity fades, no seconds remain, and the choice is made. Options are few, the limits are tight, and living like this feels far from right. But through this lens, it's clear to me, this heavy burden shouldn’t be. Everyone deserves more than scraps, to eat with hope, not fear of collapse.
https://www.healthcare.gov/glossary/federal-poverty-level-fpl/
https://www.cbpp.org/blog/food-insecurity-rises-for-the-second-year-in-a-row
Very interesting, thank you for experimenting and sharing! Good work!
DeleteFor my social experiment, I decided to try living on a very small budget, like what someone might have if they were living in poverty. I wanted to understand the struggles people face when they don’t have enough money to cover all their needs. In class, we’ve talked about how not enough money affects health and life, and I wanted to see for myself what that might feel like.
ReplyDeleteI learned that the poverty line for one person is about $280 a week. Based on that, I made a budget: $150 for rent and bills, $50 for food, $30 for gas, $20 for personal items like soap, and $30 to save in case of emergencies. I followed this budget for one week. I didn’t spend money on extra things like eating out, snacks, or entertainment. I wrote down everything I spent to see how it added up.
One of the hardest parts was grocery shopping. With only $50 for the week, I had to make tough choices, such as buying less healthy food like processed food, even though I wanted healthier options, it just wasn’t possible with my budget. By the end of the week, I had run out of snacks and couldn’t afford to get more. It really hit me how hard it is for people to eat healthily when they don’t have enough money. It’s not about being lazy or not caring it’s about not having enough to make better choices.
Gas was another big struggle. With only $30 for gas money, I had to plan my trips very carefully. I had to think about how far I was driving and whether it was worth it to go somewhere. It made me realize how stressful it must be for people who need to go to work or the doctor but can barely afford the gas to get there. The constant worry about running out of gas and not having enough money to fill up was exhausting.
The whole experience made me think differently about money and life. Every little decision felt heavy. Do I spend this now, or will I need it later for something more important? It felt like I couldn’t make mistakes because there was no safety net. I thought a lot about how hard it must be to live like this all the time. People who live on such tight budgets aren’t just struggling to pay for things they’re living with the stress and worry of what might happen if something goes wrong like a car breaking down or a sudden expense.
This experiment connected a lot to what we’ve learned in class about the social determinants of health. If people don’t have enough money, they can’t always afford healthy food, gas to get to the doctor, or even basic necessities like warm clothes in the winter. It’s not fair because these things are basic needs, but many people don’t have enough resources to meet them. While there are programs like food stamps or housing assistance, they don’t always fill the gaps. There’s still a lot of work to do to help people who are struggling.
Although this experiment taught me how to better my money-spending habits, it also taught me a lot about the daily challenges people face when they don’t have enough money. It wasn’t easy for me to stick to the budget for just one week, and I can’t imagine how hard it must be to live like this every day. It also made me realize how strong and resilient people are who live on tight budgets. They’re doing the best they can with what they have, but they shouldn’t have to struggle this much. We need better policies to make life easier, like affordable housing, help with gas money, and better food programs. Everyone deserves a chance to live without constantly worrying about money.
My social experience involves attending my first virtual city council meeting. I have decided to write about this experience because this was my first time attending a city council meeting and I wanted to explore how the different issues were addressed and the approaches used in order to solve the problems involving the residents in the Guilford County community. I attended the Greensboro City Council Meeting on October 15, 2024, Katie Dorsett Council Chamber. I observed a meeting including various members of the city council including Mayor Nancy Vaughan, Marikay Abuzuaiter, council member at large, District 1 Sharon Hightower, District 2 Goldie Wells, District 3 Zack Matheny, District 4 Nancy Hoffman, District 5 Tammie Thurm, Hugh Holston, council member at large, Mayor PRO TEM Yvonne Johnson. An announcement and presentation was given with First Horizon becoming the first naming rights partner of Greensboro Coliseum renaming it First Horizon Coliseum. Todd Williams, Triad Marker President First Horizon Bank spoke concerning the renaming of the coliseum. Some items on the agenda were postponed to another date. There was a consent agenda (one vote) G1-G3 which was approved. Public hearing H1-H5 items were postponed to a different date. Items H6-H17 was public hearing to consider adoption of the West Friendly Neighborhood conservation overlay. Public hearing for ordinance for original zoning for certain locations was also addressed. There was also General Business Agenda I1-I9 ordinance to amend State, Federal, other grants to fund budget for Pleasant Garden Water Services. There were many items to address dealing with ordinance for zoning properties which was approved. As far as the people who spoke to the City Council concerning item H4: 4616, 4610, 4628, and 4634 S. Holden Road which involved requesting PUD zoning was Amanda Hoodier, Todd Williams, Deon Brown and Lee Bryant who spoke on behalf of the property owners, contract purchase and housing needs. They were requesting permission to build a maximum of 118 single-family dwellings on the land. Mr. Clark and his attorney spoke against zoning that land because his heavy equipment was placed there and was not a good idea for residents to be around loud trucks and possible environmental hazards such as air pollution due to chemicals and certain smells. Many city council members had the opportunity to ask questions and voice their concerns. Some concerns were about the access to school roads being closed near the industrial sites during certain times during the day. After all members of the council addressed their concerns and opinions, the request for re-zoning of this property was denied because re-zoning that land would decrease the quality of life to the residents and they wanted to protect industrial sties as well. The location was not for residential but for industrial sites. During the meeting, many more re-zoning areas were addressed and approved including H5. I learned while attending this virtual City Council Meeting that so many issues were brought before the council which were very important to the community. I never knew just how many complaints there were in one county and the amount of time and dedication it took in order to address them all. So many residents are impacted by the decision makers in the community. There could be so many families having to live beside dangerous industrial plants and chemical plants that could greatly affect their health and well-being without the support of others standing up for them. Others are not so fortunate due to the inability to seek housing in safe neighborhoods due to low income, among other things. Every person should have the opportunity to live in a healthy, safe environment. We all could make a difference in our community by attending city council meetings and by standing up for what is right. We all have a duty to help our community and become a voice for those who can not.
DeleteThanks for sharing about this interesting experience! I'm glad you go to do this, especially with the recent passing of our former mayor.
DeleteFor my experiment, I decided to give back my time to my community. I organized a litter pickup in my community and spent several hours cleaning a 2 mile stretch of road. I chose this for my social experiment because I drive this road frequently and always notice the trash and debris on the side of the road. I wanted to do something positive for the community. I contacted my local adopt a highway office in Sanford and was given the DOT trash bags for the litter pickup. I have my own hunting safety vests as well as litter pickup sticks, so I utilized those. I got my sister, son and boyfriend to also help, so it ended up being a family community event. It was tiring work, but it also felt good to clean the road up, not only for the people residing in the community, but also for the animals that could've potentially eaten plastic or gotten stuck in soda can. While I was cleaning the road, many people stopped and thanked me for what I was doing and that made me feel good. I hope it possibly inspires them to also contribute back in some way. I can't believe how many people just throw trash out of their car. I found all kinds of crazy things on the side of the road. I couldn't help but think of the homeless community and how this is their daily routine. Some pick up bottles and cans and turn them in for cash just to buy a meal for the day. Some people may even be looking for food to eat in the leftover to go bags and boxes. It just really allowed me to see another side of things and was a very humbling experience. I plan to do another litter pickup before the end of the year. I think this is a small gesture that goes a long way to the environmental health of my community.
ReplyDeleteThe fact you organized this all on your own, and communicating with DOT is impressive! I find it really interesting that you chose to do this, because you were observant and noticed this stretch of road frequently had litter....so you decided to do something about it! This goes to show what dedication, compassion and public health can do! Great job and thank you for your volunteer efforts!
DeleteFor my social experiment, I want to reflect on a project my nutrition class implemented recently. Our project was centered around the SNAP program and how important it is to keep it fully funded. Our project was to make a spreadsheet of food to live off of SNAP guidelines for two weeks and to realistically base it around our personal diets. Our budget was around $6 a day, this is the average SNAP benefits for participants.
ReplyDeleteThis project put budgeting and meal prepping in a whole new light to me. We had to plan out our meal costs by the serving in order to afford eating for the week. Many of our food options were limited due to costs and serving sizes. In order to be cost effective, many of the food items selected were canned, dried, or processed so it would be cheaper and have more servings to last us in our two weeks of budgeting. I personally really enjoyed this project because I would like to work for SNAP and WIC in the future after graduating, so putting myself in the shoes of a participant was really beneficial for me to see what it is like to be a part of these programs. I still do not know how hard it must be for a full family to live off of $6 a person for a day, but this project at least made me try. I believe this project gave me a real world experience to help people in the future when I work for these programs. I am also really passionate about the politics around WIC and SNAP and doing a project like this really fueled the fire in me to keep pushing for funding for these very helpful programs. Programs like WIC and SNAP help so many families afford healthier foods and help fight poverty and hunger. Without this project, I don’t know that I would have ever really understood what goes into these programs and what the families that participate in them go through. After this project, I knew I wanted to work and fight for these programs and help families access resources that can help them.
Hi Kayce Jo, this social experience sounds difficult! I am really impressed by your ability to budget and do this successfully. I do agree that going through this experience is extremely helpful for you to be able to understand how to support others in the future. I think this project aligned very well with what we've learned in this course! Great work and thank you for sharing.
DeleteFor my experiment, I spent my time volunteering at the Carousel Center. The Carousel Center is a safe place children who have been abused to go. At the Carousel Center they provide counseling for children, they also provide a safe space for children to just have fun. All of these children have been through traumatic events at a very young age, so the Carousel Center can provide a getaway for these children, even if it is only for a couple of hours. This center is based solely from community help, with volunteers and donations being a main thing. It was nice to see the community come together to help these children in their time of need. Many of the children who attend the Carousel Center are from lower income families. Depending on the circumstances, some of the children are not even with their families anymore. I think it is very important to help children try to get past these traumatic events that they witnessed, so they can go on to live a successful life. The children that attend get all counseling and events for free. This is why volunteering here is so important. Helping better the children in my community will only improve the community for the future.
ReplyDeleteThank you for taking the time to volunteer at such an incredible place! I agree that these children deserve everything and what was the most meaningful part to me-is that they receive counseling, which is so needed and helpful to help them progress in the most positive way. Thank you for doing this and sharing your experience. Great work!
DeleteFor my social experience, I did the Spartan Bronze Leadership Challenge. To complete this challenge, you have one semester to do at least 10 hours of community services, 5 leadership workshops, 5 professional development events/workshops, and 5 reflections on the workshops. Each workshop was used to self-reflect on your own leadership skills but also build on them by building communities, reflecting on values and perspective, and how to use these skills for social change. Attending each workshop and reflecting on them allowed me to reflect on myself and how I see the world through my own perspective, identity, and what values I find important to me while also taking into consideration other's opinions from the workshops and how the differences between us can assist in social change. To complete the personal development portion of the challenge, I attended events on campus to learn more about inclusivity (I attended a seminar about the transgender community by OLCE), career and professional development (I attended the career fair), and wellness (I renewed my CPR certification) just to name a few. I found fulfillment in attending these by increasing my presence on campus, as well as learning skills such as advocacy, goal setting, and commitment to change. The final portion of the challenge is to complete 10 hours of community service. To complete this, I volunteered at Peacehaven Community Farm and Out of the Garden Project. Peacehaven Community Farm is a community organization that provides enrichment (i.e. gardening, nutrition classes) and support to individuals and their families with intellectual and developmental disabilities who may have aged out of government assistance programs (usually 18+). By volunteering here, I thought that it was so encouraging about the work Peacehaven does and provides for adults with I/DD who may not find purpose or belonging elsewhere. I also volunteered with Out of the Garden Project who has multiple problems to aid food insecurity in Guilford and neighboring counties. I volunteered with the Fresh Mobile Markets as well as packaging canned foods and packages for school distribution. The Fresh Mobile Markets are done every day at multiple locations in Guilford County. Farmers, grocery stores, and restaurants provide OOTGP with fresh fruit, meats, eggs, and produce to distribute to families in a drive through style. By this partnership, many of these places are curbing their food waste by giving to those in need when the food hasn't necessarily gone bad; they just can not sell at their store. The warehouse is also their main hub for packaging these food boxes, school distribution bags, and organizing foo donations provided by community partners. I will continue to volunteer at both of these organizations, especially OOTGP post-graduation to stay connected with the Piedmont Triad community and help to combat food insecurity.
ReplyDeleteSomehow, I didn't know this existed! So, first and foremost, thank you for sharing information about this so I know now. Secondly, thank you for doing this in general, and for sharing this experience with this course, in particular! I really like the events you chose to attend on campus! I also loved that you took the time to volunteer at a place around food insecurity, since I know that is a passion of yours, and also aligns well with course content. Great work and thank you for sharing!
DeleteThere is a town in Roberson County, which is distant from Greensboro, where I completed my rural project and visited the town over break. The town is much closer to where my hometown is and I was able to learn so much and be surprised at the vast differences. There were a variety of different services that were done such as organizing donated clothes at the thrift store, prepping clothes packets to donate, making food donation boxes, and prepping Thanksgiving meals to be donated, among more. There are two main things that I feel connected to class material and allowed me to put our learning to a reflection as I experienced it first-hand. The effects of historical events such as racist occurrences in the town have left an everlasting impact and the entire town was educated on these effects and sought ways to systemically alleviate the equity. Consider, the town is home to Native Americans and they have stood together as a group to make sure that their presence is acknowledged and respected. They also have several programs to help the community, especially families that may lack social support, and find ways to alleviate social pressures. For example, they offer an after-school program for the children of the community to allow the parents to continue working. The program is also focused on the children and ways to allow them to benefit, aside from simply being a daycare place. They offer sports, extracurriculars, homework assistance, trips to the mall, and simple ways to engage in their academic and social life. In some cases, they may also provide food during their time at the center or to be sent home. This made me reflect on the overall public health framework unit that we recently covered and the different programs that we selected. I felt that this program is a strong one that is helping to overcome Young’s Five Faces of Oppression and overall does a great job of supporting vital community support for families. Lastly, my volunteering was tremendous to see how the community comes together. One dilemma that they have managed to overcome and continue to find improvements on, is getting the word out to those who need the resources. They consider the lack of technology and Facebook to be a barrier to those in need of resources and have sought to create a communication system using individuals. A system to get the word out promptly based on a network of physicians, business owners, free clinics, directors, council members, and simply volunteers who know their role and help spread the news of events by mouth rather than technology. Overall, I think the town and the people utilize the public health framework to target their problems and best help the community with the resources they have.
ReplyDeleteHi Amanda, thank you for sharing your insights and social observances. I am sure there may be similar observances in other rural areas in NC, with each having their unique differences. I like how you aligned what you noticed with course learning and some of our poignant readings. Thank you for taking the time to do this assignment and for sharing!
DeleteFor this experience, I challenged myself to live on a budget based on the federal poverty level for two weeks. My goal was to understand, even briefly, the difficulties faced by impoverished individuals. This social experiment involves living for two weeks on the federal poverty level, adhering to a strict budget covering essentials like food and transportation. The goal is to gain empathy and insight into the challenges faced by individuals in poverty while reflecting on emotional and practical impacts through daily journaling. Each day I have brought new challenges. I found myself constantly thinking about my next meal or whether I could afford basic items. An unexpected expense, like going to Target or Ulta, would have thrown my budget into chaos. I also picked up more shifts within those two weeks. To have extra money to spend on food or other essentials. Living on $350 per week and also being part-time required meticulous planning. I allocated $160 for food, $100 for gas, and $90 for other essentials. Luxury expenses like dining out, going to the movies, or nonessential purchases were off the table. I realized how much privilege exists in having financial flexibility, and I live with my parents, so this experience was eye-opening. The mental strain of poverty is immense; every decision becomes a matter of survival. This experience highlighted gaps in local policies, such as insufficient affordable housing and inadequate food assistance programs. While many programs exist, navigating them often requires time and resources many do not have. Within those two weeks, I lived on a very tight budget at the federal poverty level to better understand the struggles of those in poverty. The experience was very challenging, as every decision felt like a matter of survival. This experience not only deepened my empathy but also strengthened my commitment to advocating for better policies.
ReplyDeleteYou articulated so many things here that other classmates reported as well. Mental strain, constant thought or worry over money, or the next thing you would eat, and being fearful that something may throw off your budget. I know this wasn't easy but I appreciate your effort in doing this, as all the things you reported directly align with things we learned in class around poverty. Great work!
DeleteFor my social experiment, my husband and I had to budget a household of 2 soon to be 3 in a few weeks under 1 income. The average cost of living in Cleveland TN is $2035 a month. Cleveland, Tennessee, like many small cities, faces challenges related to low-income households managing their budgets. The cost of living in Cleveland is relatively lower compared to national averages, but so are the median household incomes. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the median household income in Cleveland was approximately $41,000 as of recent data, which is below the national median. This discrepancy often results in financial strain for families trying to cover basic needs such as housing, food, and healthcare. Websites like Data USA provide detailed statistics on income and poverty levels, offering insights into the economic landscape of the area. Our household income is around 45,000 it use to be around 100,000 before I stopped working.
ReplyDeleteWith my husband being the only one working during this time, our budget looks something like this:
Rent $1300.00
Utility $140.00
Food $200.00
Gas $200.00
With having to spend more money on gas to see our child who is currently in the hospital. We had to change our food spending to a lower amount to add additional gas money if needed. Most meals are consisted of rice as its more versatile. We aren’t breakfast people; however, coffee seems to be our best friend since our daughter arrived. After I lost my job, I was approved for WIC which helped with the smaller grocery needs. We shop at out local Food City where they have deals on certain products.
In addition, to assist low-income families, Cleveland offers various programs and resources aimed at alleviating financial burdens. Organizations such as the United Way of the Ocoee Region play a crucial role by providing funding and support for local initiatives focused on education, health, and financial stability. Additionally, government programs like SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) and LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) are accessible to eligible residents, helping them manage essential expenses. Information about these programs can be found on the Tennessee Department of Human Services website, which outlines eligibility criteria and application processes.
By outlining financial goals, such as saving for a house or paying off debt, budgeting provides a roadmap to achieve these objectives. It helps prioritize spending and allocate resources effectively. Community involvement is also vital in supporting low-income individuals and families in Cleveland. Local churches, non-profits, and volunteer groups frequently organize food drives, clothing donations, and free educational workshops to empower residents with skills and resources. These grassroots efforts complement governmental aid, creating a network of support that addresses immediate needs while fostering long-term self-sufficiency. This experience has taught me to be grateful for what I have, and no one really can plan for change instantly, but it is great to have a budget as a back up plan. Cleveland TN has a great support system they just need more advocates. Once I finish this semester, I plan on working for the health department as they are in need of assistance.
Bre, thank you so much for sharing the challenges your family faces, and for being open with your innovative solutions. I applaud you all for your hard work and effort, and am happy to hear you've been able to receive support from local/state resources. I hope you're able to work for the health department, you'd be fantastic! Thinking of you and your family.
DeleteObservations on Healthcare Access and Financial Barriers
ReplyDeleteFor my experience I started to take more notice in billing cost at my Procedular Job. Working at UNC in the procedural area, I have witnessed the struggles many older patients face in accessing necessary surgical care due to financial constraints. While Medicaid and Medicare offer some support, these programs often leave significant gaps, requiring patients to pay out-of-pocket for essential procedures. This can lead to insurmountable medical debt, with some patients’ surgeries delayed as billing offices confirm whether unpaid balances can be accommodated. These experiences highlight the heartbreaking intersection of healthcare and financial inequity.
Policy Gaps in Health Insurance for Older Adults
A closer examination of health insurance policies reveals several deficiencies that exacerbate these issues. Medicare and Medicaid frequently exclude or only partially cover critical procedures, leaving patients vulnerable to high out-of-pocket costs. Programs like the Supplemental Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) aim to assist seniors but often fail to address the full spectrum of their healthcare needs. These gaps perpetuate a system where older adults, particularly those with limited income, struggle to receive timely and adequate medical care.
Recommendations for Change
To address these challenges, systemic reforms are necessary. Expanding Medicaid and Medicare coverage for essential procedures and reducing patient cost-sharing would provide immediate relief. Hospitals should also enhance their financial assistance programs and ensure these resources are widely accessible. Additionally, community education initiatives could empower seniors to better navigate their healthcare options. Observing these issues firsthand has inspired me to explore ways to advocate for more equitable policies, with the hope of improving access and affordability for all.
For my social experiment, I volunteered with my church and served a Thanksgiving meal to the community members living at Partnership Village. This is a nonprofit organization through the Greensboro Urban Ministry that provides transitional housing for people who may have been homeless, struggle with substance use, and need help getting their life back on track. Residents will have to regularly meet with a case manager and develop goals that will need to be met. The residents are also able to attend the monthly life skills workshops and career readiness programs. This will include helping you to find jobs, and updating your resume. The past several years I have volunteered and helped serve the Thanksgiving meal. Church members will bring in and donate hand made deserts and then we will go and pick up the main meal catered from a restaurant. Once arriving at Partnership Village we will set everything up and wait for the residents and their families to arrive for the meal. Since covid everyone just takes their food to go instead of a sit down meal like we used to do. Some of these residents have just gotten off the street and had a very difficult life and haven’t had a warm meal in a while. So this is an amazing opportunity to connect and get to know the people living in the community while also being able to provide a warm delicious meal for them to enjoy. These people are always so grateful and look forward to it every year.
ReplyDeleteI love this idea, as it incorporates both community service, while also providing an avenue to utilize your public health competence. This program is fascinating and I love that it provides participants with resource and skill development to give them the best opportunities to succeed. It's incredible to see what love, perseverance and public health can do when joined together. Great work and thank you for sharing.
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ReplyDeleteBudgeting as a Broke College Student:
ReplyDeleteI wanted to see if I could stick to a budget of the federal poverty guide of $280 a week for a whole month and save some money for a car. I work part-time at Food Lion, and I make $13 and some change an hour. Since I live with my parents, I don’t have to worry about rent, but I still spend money on other stuff like gas for carpooling, food, and shopping.
How I Set Up My Budget:
I decided to budget $280 a week since that’s close to what I earn if I pick up a few extra hours here and there and it is the federal poverty guide of income per week. My goal was to save $300 by the end of the month while still covering my regular expenses. Here’s how I planned it out:
Gas: $30 a week
Groceries/Food: $95 (mostly snacks and things for lunch at work)
Shopping/Fun: $85
Savings: $70
What Happened Each Week:
Week 1: I spent most of my food budget at Food Lion, which was easy since I get a discount. I didnt spend that much. I didnt go shopping at all, but I did spend a little bit in gas money.
Week 2: I went to the mall with my friends and spent over my budget on clothes because of the many good things. I also ate out there so I only saved $25 that week, which put me behind my goal.
Week 3: I tried to make up for it by spending less. I avoided eating out and stuck to snacks I already had at home. This week, I saved $55.
Week 4: It got harder because I wanted to go out again, but I stayed strong. I spent most of my money on gas from carpooling with a friend and saved about $68.
What I Learned:
It’s really hard to save money when you want to have fun, but it’s not impossible. The biggest thing I learned was that I have to say no to some things, like shopping or eating out, if I want to save for something big like a car. I also realized I spend a lot more on little things than I thought, like snacks and random stuff I don’t really need. These things can make budgeting hard but paying rent and more responsibilities is much more intense and requires better budgeting to get to a certain accomplishment.
Thank you for trying out this social experiment. This was interesting, and I love how you reported on how your budget went week by week. I know you reported similar things as other people, with how difficult it can be to try and have fun when living on such a strict budget. Great work and thank you for sharing.
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