Who is most vulnerable in healthcare?

Asked by: Neal Mann  |  Last update: October 10, 2025
Score: 4.4/5 (21 votes)

Individuals with chronic illnesses and/or disabilities are more likely than the general population to experience problems in accessing a range of health care services. These vulnerable groups may also experience lack of coordination of care across multiple providers.

Who is the most vulnerable patient?

Who is Considered a Vulnerable Patient?
  • patients with mental health problems.
  • the disabled.
  • the elderly.
  • some chronically ill patients.
  • some terminally ill people.

Who is most affected by healthcare?

Ethnic minorities often face unique challenges in healthcare, rendering them a vulnerable population. Factors such as socioeconomic disparities, limited access to quality healthcare, language barriers and cultural differences contribute to health inequities within these communities.

Who are most vulnerable people?

Some common examples of vulnerable groups in society include: elderly people, people with low incomes, uninsured people, homeless people, racial or ethnic minorities, people in prison, migrant workers, pregnant women, people in the LGBTQIA community, and children.

What are the 10 vulnerable groups?

Vulnerable Populations
  • Pregnant women.
  • Human fetuses.
  • Neonates.
  • Prisoners.
  • Children.
  • Individuals with physical disabilities.
  • Individuals with mental disabilities or cognitive impairments.
  • Economically disadvantaged.

A new way to fund health care for the most vulnerable | Andrew Bastawrous

17 related questions found

Who are vulnerable populations in healthcare?

17.2. VULNERABLE POPULATIONS
  • The very young and the very old.
  • Individuals with chronic illnesses, disabilities, or communication barriers.
  • Veterans.
  • Racial and ethnic minorities.
  • Individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer (LGBTQ)
  • Victims of human trafficking or sexual violence.

Which group is most vulnerable?

The social groups most vulnerable to poverty are the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribe households.

What is vulnerability in healthcare?

Vulnerability. Being vulnerable is defined as in need of special care, support, or protection because of age, disability, risk of abuse or neglect.

What types of people are most vulnerable?

There are some groups who have been identified by the federal regulations as “vulnerable populations”: pregnant women and fetuses, minors, prisoners, persons with diminished mental capacity, and those who are educationally or economically disadvantaged.

Which group belongs to the most vulnerable?

Vulnerable groups can vary across different contexts, but some common examples include children, elderly, persons with disabilities, women and girls, ethnic and racial minorities, LGBTQIA+ individuals, immigrants and migrants, refugees and displaced persons etc.

What 3 people are more at risk of healthcare infections?

Anyone getting medical care is at some risk for an HAI; however, some people are at higher risk than others, including the following: Very young people – premature babies and very sick children. Very old people – the frail and the elderly. People with certain medical conditions – such as diabetes.

What is the healthiest race in America?

Whites are usually taken as the standard against which other groups are compared, but they are not necessarily in the best health. Hispanics appear to be healthier than whites on a number of measures, though not all. Asians are generally in better health than any other group (Hummer et al., 2004).

What is the biggest risk in healthcare?

Labor costs, economic conditions and talent lead risk concerns for healthcare leaders
  • Macroeconomic risks likely to affect their organization's growth opportunities.
  • Strategic risks the organization faces that may affect the validity of its strategy for pursuing growth opportunities.

Who is most vulnerable to diseases?

People at Higher Risk for Communicable Disease
  • Older adults who are 65 years of age or older.
  • Infants under 2 years of age.
  • Those experiencing health and social inequities – including people identifying with certain racial and ethnic minority groups and people with disabilities.
  • People with medical conditions: Cancer.

Who is considered vulnerable?

The definition is wide, however this may be regarded as anyone over the age of 18 years who may be unable to protect themselves from abuse, harm or exploitation, which may be by reason of illness, age, mental illness, disability or other types of physical or mental impairment.

Who are the most vulnerable people in the United States?

At-Risk Populations
  • Women and Girls.
  • Children and Youth.
  • Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex (LGBTQI+) Individuals.
  • Elderly and Persons With Disabilities.

Who are the most vulnerable patients?

There are a number of groups that are considered vulnerable populations, including racial and ethnic minorities, the economically disadvantaged, and those with chronic health conditions. For vulnerable populations, their health and healthcare issues may be exacerbated by social factors.

Who are the high risk populations in healthcare?

These include individuals who experience greater risk factors for poor health outcomes due to their racial or ethnic status or sexual preferences . Also vulnerable are children, the elderly, the socioeconomically disadvantaged, underinsured individuals, or those with certain medical conditions.

Which is the most vulnerable user?

The most vulnerable road users are: pedestrians. cyclists. motorcyclists.

Who is a vulnerable patient?

Vulnerable populations include patients who are racial or ethnic minorities, children, elderly, socioeconomically disadvantaged, underinsured or those with certain medical conditions. Members of vulnerable populations often have health conditions that are exacerbated by unnecessarily inadequate healthcare.

Which people are more vulnerable to abuse and why?

They may:
  • be getting older.
  • have a physical or learning disability, or have trouble seeing or hearing.
  • not have enough support.
  • have mental health problems.
  • be socially isolated.
  • live in inappropriate accommodation.
  • misuse alcohol or drugs.
  • have financial circumstances which make them higher risk.

What is a vulnerable population in healthcare?

Vulnerable Populations are groups and communities at a higher risk for poor physical, psychological, or social health . These barriers are further intensified due to social, economic, political, and environmental components. Limitations due to illness or disability can also influence the vulnerability of a population .

What are the most vulnerable groups of people?

This may include young or elderly people, those with mental health issues, physical disabilities, learning disabilities or gender. They may also be individuals at risk because they are socially isolated or are dependent on others.

What groups are considered vulnerable populations?

In the social realm, vulnerable populations include those living in abusive families, the homeless, immigrants, and refugees. The needs of these populations are serious, debilitating, and vital, with poor health in 1 dimension likely compounded by poor health in others.

What is a vulnerable group?

A vulnerable group can be defined as a “population within a country that has specific characteristics that make it at a higher risk of needing humanitarian assistance than others or being excluded from financial and social services.