Health: Beyond Healthcare

Introduction

• Current discourse often focuses on healthcare system issues such as doctor shortages and ER wait times.
• Solving these issues does not inherently make people healthier.

Common Health Issues

• Obesity, cancer, injuries, diabetes, heart disease, asthma are prevalent.
• Known causes: diet, smoking, stress, inactivity.

Socioeconomic Impact on Health

• Poverty is detrimental to health.
• Higher income levels correlate with better health.
• Health improves with each step up the social and income ladder.

Influencing Factors on Health

• Personal Level: Affected by food, activity levels, coping skills, housing, family situation, and healthcare access.
• Lifestyle Decisions: Housing affordability, diet, social stressors influenced by education, job, income, and community.
• Broader Influences: Choices impacted by culture, economy, and public policies.

Case Study: Laurie's Situation

• Laurie faces health issues due to socio-economic constraints.
  • Unsafe housing, stress from low-income job.
  • Lack of education limits job opportunities.

Needs for Health Improvement

• Affordable healthy food and housing.
• Ability to make healthy decisions and effective coping skills.
• Education for better job opportunities.
• Income for basic needs.
• Safe community, access to transportation, healthy workplace.
• A healthy, diverse economy for job creation.

Beyond Traditional Health Focus

• Health is influenced by more than hospitals, smoking habits, or diet.
• Schools, jobs, community, government, and family play roles.
• Healthcare alone cannot resolve health issues.

A New Direction for Health

• Current path leads to unsustainable healthcare costs.
• Alternative path focuses on community prosperity, well-being, and productivity.

Community Investments

• Affordable housing, diverse and walkable communities.
• Local food, community engagement, early childhood development.
• Investing in community health.

Local Success: Grey Bruce

• Known for innovation and resourcefulness in tackling health challenges.
• Collaborative efforts to build healthier communities.

Rewriting the Narrative: Laurie’s Improved Story

• Community support for education and housing.
• Access to diverse economy and good healthcare.
• Strong community ties and support networks.

Action Steps

• Improve community health as a collective effort.
• Engage in conversations about health beyond healthcare.
• Collective action from all community members including nurses, teachers, builders, parents, business leaders, students, and officials.

Conclusion

• Emphasize community-driven solutions for holistic health improvement.