Download or read book U S Health in International Perspective written by National Research Council and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2013-04-12 with total page 421 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The United States is among the wealthiest nations in the world, but it is far from the healthiest. Although life expectancy and survival rates in the United States have improved dramatically over the past century, Americans live shorter lives and experience more injuries and illnesses than people in other high-income countries. The U.S. health disadvantage cannot be attributed solely to the adverse health status of racial or ethnic minorities or poor people: even highly advantaged Americans are in worse health than their counterparts in other, "peer" countries. In light of the new and growing evidence about the U.S. health disadvantage, the National Institutes of Health asked the National Research Council (NRC) and the Institute of Medicine (IOM) to convene a panel of experts to study the issue. The Panel on Understanding Cross-National Health Differences Among High-Income Countries examined whether the U.S. health disadvantage exists across the life span, considered potential explanations, and assessed the larger implications of the findings. U.S. Health in International Perspective presents detailed evidence on the issue, explores the possible explanations for the shorter and less healthy lives of Americans than those of people in comparable countries, and recommends actions by both government and nongovernment agencies and organizations to address the U.S. health disadvantage.

Download or read book The Promise of Assistive Technology to Enhance Activity and Work Participation written by National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2017-09-01 with total page 503 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The U.S. Census Bureau has reported that 56.7 million Americans had some type of disability in 2010, which represents 18.7 percent of the civilian noninstitutionalized population included in the 2010 Survey of Income and Program Participation. The U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) provides disability benefits through the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program and the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program. As of December 2015, approximately 11 million individuals were SSDI beneficiaries, and about 8 million were SSI beneficiaries. SSA currently considers assistive devices in the nonmedical and medical areas of its program guidelines. During determinations of substantial gainful activity and income eligibility for SSI benefits, the reasonable cost of items, devices, or services applicants need to enable them to work with their impairment is subtracted from eligible earnings, even if those items or services are used for activities of daily living in addition to work. In addition, SSA considers assistive devices in its medical disability determination process and assessment of work capacity. The Promise of Assistive Technology to Enhance Activity and Work Participation provides an analysis of selected assistive products and technologies, including wheeled and seated mobility devices, upper-extremity prostheses, and products and technologies selected by the committee that pertain to hearing and to communication and speech in adults.

Download or read book Nonverbal Communication Across Disciplines Paralanguage kinesics silence personal and environmental interaction written by Fernando Poyatos and published by John Benjamins Publishing. This book was released on 2002-01-01 with total page 476 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Part of a three volume set which takes a cross-cultural approach to the subject of nonverbal communication.

Download or read book The Housing Enabler written by Susanne Iwarsson and published by . This book was released on 2001 with total page 104 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book An Introduction to Sustainability written by Martin Mulligan and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2014-11-20 with total page 395 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An Introduction to Sustainability provides students with a comprehensive overview of the key concepts and ideas which are encompassed within the growing field of sustainability. The book teases out the diverse but intersecting domains of sustainability and emphasises strategies for action. Aimed at those studying the subject for the first time, it is unique in giving students from different disciplinary backgrounds a coherent framework and set of core principles for applying broad sustainability principles within their personal and professional lives. These include: working to improve equality within and across generations, moving from consumerism to quality of life goals and respecting diversity in both nature and culture. Areas of emerging importance such as the economics of happiness and wellbeing stand alongside core topics including: Energy and society Consumption and consumerism Risk and resilience Waste, water and land. Key challenges and applications are explored through international case studies and each chapter includes a thematic essay drawing on diverse literature to provide an integrated introduction to fundamental issues. Launched with the brand-new Routledge Sustainability Hub, the book’s companion website contains a range of features to engage students with the interdisciplinary nature of Sustainability. Together these resources provide a wealth of material for learning, teaching and researching the topic of sustainability. This textbook is an essential companion to any sustainability course.

Download or read book Finding Purpose written by Andrew J. Hoffman and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2017-09-08 with total page 148 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Both thoughtful and thought-provoking, Finding Purpose aims to challenge our understanding of how humanity interacts with planet Earth, and our role within this. This book is an invitation: would you like to participate in one of the most important projects of imagination, perhaps the greatest ever, in human history? Distilling and refining over 20 pieces from a lifetime of work in academia and trade, across speeches, blogs, editorials and essays, Hoffman invites us to look beyond material growth and explore the role of the individual and business in discovering a wider purpose to bring about a balanced and sustainable society. The reader is encouraged to consider humanity’s relationship with the environment through different lenses: business, academia, faith-based and cultural. By bringing them together, Hoffman encourages us to understand our relationship with the planet in a far more holistic sense. Drawing on ideas from philosophy, literature, natural sciences and politics, Hoffman ensures that the ideas he explores are wholly accessible and applicable. Fully substantiated through various research and examples, the issues described are consistently made relevant to the reader.Finding Purpose is the perfect book for anyone – from student to CEO – thinking about their place in the world, and how making changes in our own lives and societies can impact on the world around us.

Download or read book The Future of Disability in America written by Institute of Medicine and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2007-10-24 with total page 619 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The future of disability in America will depend on how well the U.S. prepares for and manages the demographic, fiscal, and technological developments that will unfold during the next two to three decades. Building upon two prior studies from the Institute of Medicine (the 1991 Institute of Medicine's report Disability in America and the 1997 report Enabling America), The Future of Disability in America examines both progress and concerns about continuing barriers that limit the independence, productivity, and participation in community life of people with disabilities. This book offers a comprehensive look at a wide range of issues, including the prevalence of disability across the lifespan; disability trends the role of assistive technology; barriers posed by health care and other facilities with inaccessible buildings, equipment, and information formats; the needs of young people moving from pediatric to adult health care and of adults experiencing premature aging and secondary health problems; selected issues in health care financing (e.g., risk adjusting payments to health plans, coverage of assistive technology); and the organizing and financing of disability-related research. The Future of Disability in America is an assessment of both principles and scientific evidence for disability policies and services. This book's recommendations propose steps to eliminate barriers and strengthen the evidence base for future public and private actions to reduce the impact of disability on individuals, families, and society.

Download or read book Restructuring Capitalism written by Rogene Buchholz and published by Taylor & Francis. This book was released on 2017-04-21 with total page 572 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The main theme of this book is that, within contemporary capitalist societies a materialist outlook informed by science has triumphed creating the lack of a spiritual dimension to give meaning and purpose to the activities that are necessary for a capitalist society to function effectively. Capitalist societies are in trouble and need to be restructured to provide for the material needs of all the people who work within the system, not just the one percent, but because of the lack of a spiritual connection with each other and with nature this is not likely to happen. It has been said that society and the organizations within treat one another as objects to be manipulated in the interests of promoting economic growth and treat nature as an object to be exploited for the same purpose. This way of treating each other, and nature, is consistent with the way a capitalist system has worked in the past and was supposed to enable it to function efficiently to provide a fulfilling and enriched life for all its adherents through growth of the economy. However, as capitalist societies have become dysfunctional they will need a different kind of orientation to continue in existence. Restructuring Capitalism: Materialism and Spiritualism in Business argues that what is needed is a new sense of a spiritualization of the self and its relation to others and to the establishment of a spiritual connection with nature in order for capitalism to be restructured to work for everyone and for the society as a whole.

Download or read book Stress And Emotion written by Charles D. Spielberger and published by Taylor & Francis. This book was released on 2015-10-23 with total page 357 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This volume, based on an international conference on current research in Stress And Emotion, Covers, In Four Sections, Theoretical Aspects, perception, cognition and emotion, the physiological and biological Concomitants Of Emotion And Type A Behaviour And Emotion.

Download or read book Handbook of Environmental Psychology and Quality of Life Research written by Ghozlane Fleury-Bahi and published by Springer. This book was released on 2016-08-12 with total page 567 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This Handbook presents a broad overview of the current research carried out in environmental psychology which puts into perspective quality of life and relationships with living spaces, and shows how this original analytical framework can be used to understand different environmental and societal issues. Adopting an original approach, this Handbook focuses on the links with other specialties in psychology, especially social and health psychology, together with other disciplines such as geography, architecture, sociology, anthropology, urbanism and engineering. Faced with the problems of society which involve the quality of life of individuals and communities, it is fundamental to consider the relationships an individual has with his different living spaces. This issue of the links between quality of life and environment is becoming increasingly significant with, at a local level, problems resulting from different types of annoyances, such as pollution and noise, while, at a global level, there is the central question of climate change with its harmful consequences for humans and the planet. How can the impact on well-being of environmental nuisances and threats (for example, natural risks, pollution, and noise) be reduced? How can the quality of life within daily living spaces (home, cities, work environments) be improved? Why is it important to understand the psychological issues of our relationship with the global environment (climatic warming, ecological behaviours)? This Handbook is intended not only for students of various disciplines (geography, architecture, psychology, town planning, etc.) but also for social decision-makers and players who will find in it both theoretical and methodological perspectives, so that psychological and environmental dimensions can be better taken into account in their working practices.

Download or read book Handbook of Human Behavior and the Social Environment written by Roberta R. Greene and published by Transaction Publishers. This book was released on 2016-04-30 with total page 239 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Handbook of Human Behavior and the Social Environment is a compendium of new theories for all aspects of social work practice. It pulls together major theories and concepts used in the field. By synthesizing this wide knowledge base via practical points of view and tracing the socio-historical evolution of its content and the role of the social worker, this handbook will assist social workers in achieving their primary goals: fostering human well-being and competent social functioning. The authors describe the current social work curriculum developed by the Council on Social Work Education Commission on Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards, demonstrating how client and constituency engagement, assessment, intervention, and evaluation are guided by knowledge of human behavior and the social environment (HBSE) theory. The Handbook applies HBSE theories differently depending on client system size, context, and needs. Major concepts include power, oppression, and identity formation. This essential, up-to-date volume formulates strategies to eliminate personal bias and to promote human rights. In addition, it integrates ethics, research, policy content, diversity, human rights, and social, economic, and environmental justice issues. It will serve as an insightful and influential guide to students, professors, and social workers.

Download or read book Urban Environmental Factors and Personal Well being written by Robert M. Griffin and published by . This book was released on 1979 with total page 333 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Change and Continuity in Poland s Environmental Policy written by Magnus Andersson and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2012-12-06 with total page 359 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book takes a long-term view of environmental policy in Poland, which thus serves as an example to increase our understanding of environmental policy making in general in the former Eastern bloc countries. The perspective adopted also includes the pre-transition period, since the transformation process cannot be understood without reference to the preceding period. The book investigates the driving forces underlying policy changes, both prior to and after the transition, and identifies elements both of change and continuity - topics that have hitherto been neglected in the literature. A change of political system in Poland did not lead to a major change in the thrust of environmental policy: the policy makers adopted a cautious approach to new instruments and institutions during the transition period. What did change with the transition was the implementation aspect: the effectiveness of environmental policy increased dramatically after the abolition of socialism. The rule of law meant that the state administration and the polluters were subordinated to the legal system, thus increasing the power to environmental policy. Readership: Researchers and students interested in the environment and the countries in transition.

Download or read book Environmental Social Work written by Mel Gray and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2013 with total page 362 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Divided into three parts, this field-defining work explores what environmental social work is, and how it can be put into practice. It focuses on theory, discussing ecological and social justice, as well as sustainability, spirituality and human rights.

Download or read book Behavior and the Natural Environment written by Irwin Altman and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2012-12-06 with total page 354 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The theme of the present volume concerns people' s response to the natural environment, considered at scales varying from that of a house hold plant to that of vast wilderness areas. Our decision to focus on this particular segment of the physical environment was prompted in part by the intrinsic interest in this subject on the part of a diverse group of sodal scientists and professionals-and of laypersons, for that matter and in part by the relative neglect of this topic in standard treatments of the environment-behavior field. It also serves to bring out once again the interdisdplinary nature of that field, and we are pleased to have been able to inc1ude representatives from geography, sodology, soda! ecology, and natural recreation among our contributors. We believe that this volume will serve a useful purpose in helping to integrate the find ings and concepts in this presently somewhat fragmented field, scat tered as they are over a very diverse array of publications representing a similarly varied group of spedalties. It is hoped that the result will be to stimulate future development of this area and to add a measure of in creased coherence to it. Volume 7 of our series will be devoted to the theme of elderly people and the environment, with M. Powell Lawton joining us as guest co-editor. The titles of the papers comprising Volume 7 are shown on page v. Irwin Altman J oachim F. Wohlwill ix Contents Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Download or read book The Handbook of Interior Design written by Jo Ann Asher Thompson and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2015-02-09 with total page 580 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: THE HANDBOOK OF INTERIOR DESIGN The Handbook of Interior Design offers a compilation of current works that inform the discipline of interior design. These examples of design scholarship present a detailed overview of current research and critical thinking. The volume brings together a broad range of essays from an international group of scholars who represent the diversity of work in the field. Intended to engage those involved in the study and practice of interior design, the Handbook considers the connections between theory, research, and practice that shape the field of interior design, as well as the theoretical perspectives that inform the field. It contains over thirty essays which together demonstrate the wide range of opinions and knowledge in the discipline, grouped in sections to reflect key components of their content. A close reading of the essays will uncover contradictory as well as supporting positions on aspects of interior design, challenging the reader to think critically and develop a personal stance toward the subject.

Download or read book New Perspectives for Environmental Policies Through Behavioral Economics written by Frank Beckenbach and published by Springer. This book was released on 2015-09-25 with total page 337 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book presents essential insights on environmental policy derived from behavioral economics. The authors demonstrate the potential of behavioral economics to drive environmental protection and to generate concrete proposals for the efficient design of policy instruments. Moreover, detailed recommendations on how to use “nudges” and related instruments to move industry and society toward a sustainable course are presented. This book addresses the needs of environmental economists, behavioral economists and environmental policymakers, as well as all readers interested in the intersection between behavioral economics and environmental policy.