ALICE Households

Public Interest News Network (PINN) includes a focus on the United Way missions, including ALICE households, which are composed of individuals who are Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. For a growing number of ALICE households in the United States, financial stability is nothing more than a pipe dream, no matter how hard they work. Many live in communities where news deserts and broadband inequities exacerbate the digital divide. ALICE households also face significant challenges in accessing timely and appropriate healthcare, including diagnosis and treatment for conditions such as Lyme disease.

ALICE households earn above the Federal Poverty Level yet struggle to afford basic expenses. Households of color, older and younger people and single parents continue to fall disproportionately under the ALICE Threshold, forced to decide between household essentials like rent and prescriptions. https://www.unitedforalice.org/home - https://www.unitedforalice.org/focus-veterans

PINN works to empower ALICE families and other community members, along with the states and cities they populate, to demonstrate their collective resilience and self-determination in helping to shape public policy and benefit from the process. They can play vital roles in building healthy, safe and age-friendly communities in which they can live, work, play and prosper.

How Human-Centered Design can help ALICE families

Understanding the root causes of hardship: HCD encourages in-depth research to understand the real-world experiences of ALICE families, going beyond surface-level observations to uncover the underlying causes of their financial struggles.
Designing relevant and usable solutions: By involving ALICE families directly in the design process, solutions are more likely to address their specific needs and challenges, increasing the likelihood of adoption and positive impact.
Promoting equitable solutions: HCD can help identify and address systemic issues that contribute to financial hardship within certain demographic groups, such as households of color.
Fostering collaboration and empathy: The collaborative nature of HCD brings together diverse stakeholders, including ALICE families, community organizations, government agencies, and businesses, to work together on solutions. This can also increase empathy for the struggles of ALICE households within the broader community.
In essence, applying human-centered design principles to address the challenges faced by ALICE households can lead to more effective, efficient, and compassionate solutions that improve their financial stability and overall well-being.

ALICE households and Lyme Disease:

Socioeconomic factors: Studies indicate that lower socioeconomic status and less access to healthcare may be linked to a higher risk of developing disseminated, or late-stage, Lyme disease.
Access to care: ALICE households often struggle with limited or inadequate health insurance, potentially leading to delays in seeking care and diagnoses.
Delayed diagnosis: Studies reveal that delays in diagnosis are a significant issue for Lyme disease patients in general, with many seeing multiple doctors before receiving a correct diagnosis. ALICE households, with potential barriers to accessing multiple healthcare providers or specialist referrals, may be more susceptible to such delays, exacerbating the impact of Lyme disease and complicating its management.
Increased risk of disseminated disease: Lower socioeconomic status has been associated with a higher risk of disseminated Lyme disease, likely due to delayed diagnosis and treatment, according to a study published by BMC Infectious Diseases. This means individuals in ALICE households might be more likely to experience severe symptoms and complications if they contract Lyme disease.

While more research is needed to quantify the specific impact of Lyme disease on ALICE households, available evidence suggests that this demographic may face unique challenges in diagnosis, treatment, and overall disease management due to socioeconomic barriers and limited healthcare access. Addressing these systemic issues is crucial to ensure equitable access to Lyme disease prevention, diagnosis, and care for all individuals, regardless of their financial circumstances.