7) Caring Community

Examples

• children, disabled, aged, ethnic minorities and poor families

Features

• difficult to mobilize individual resources (including personal ability, financial asset and social network etc.) to deal with crisis
• more prone to having crisis comparing with the general public
• need timely and additional assistance

Effects on communities, families and vulnerable groups

Communities

• change in the income of the general public will lead to a change in consumption pattern and dietary habits

Families

• increases in working hours may lead to the increase in tension between family life and work

Vulnerable groups

• cut in public expenditure, esp. on social welfare which may affect the accessibility and the quality of services provided for the vulnerable groups

Effects on individual health and well-being

Physical

• psychosomatic disorders
• not able to maintain basic standard of living

Mental

• triggers the depressed mood

Social

• people may withdraw from some social activities to reduce expenditure

A nuclear family

• a couple living with their dependent children in the same residence

An extended family

• a nuclear or single-parent family living together with other relatives such as grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins in the same household

A reconstituted family / blended family

• a couple with at least one partner who has divorced and remarried and which includes children from their previous relationship(s)

A single-parent family

• a parent, who may or may not have been married, lives with one or more of his/her children

Mental aspect

• traumatic events that have a profound and lasting psychological impact such as grief

Social aspect

• readjustment to new family relationships, such as children assume parent roles in the family

Physical aspect

• possible care deprivation due to the change in family financial situation

Reasons

• natural disaster, human activities such as dam project, war, job, education, family reunion etc.

Impacts on health

Physical

• health risks due to the change in living environment and lifestyles

Mental

• stressor / need for identity /self-image/ sense of belonging in the new community

Social

• change in community bonds and support networks

Possible risks and needs

• possible care deprivation in displaced population - lack of access to health care information and related services
• readjustment to new environment: employment, study and social network

Social support

• resources and encouragement received from social network, government and non-government organisations (NGOs)

Types of help

• emotional support
• friendship
• practical assistance
• suggestions and information

Social Support Network

• tight social network
• loose social network