The AmishT The Amish

Brandi SmithJenna ApplebachTaylor SandAshley CouturierNicole Prins

What is Amish Health to You?

Demo Data

• 251,000 live in the United States and Canada• There are 456 settlements across the United

States and Canada• 13,330 live in Michigan• 80 families live in Mecosta County

Cultural Descriptors

• Community based• Minimal technology• Strong work ethic• Minimal education requirements• Strong dedication to the church• Men vs. Women’s job roles• Holistic healing/ “God’s will”• Natural healing remedies

Bias Possibilities

• Viewed as different and subordinate• Inconveniences produced• Inbreeding• Incompetence • Uncleanly

Health Risk Factors

• Incest (genetic diseases)• Difficult Pregnancies• Farming accidents• Heat stroke• Dental issues• Diseases (not vaccinated)

Amish Birth Rate

Amish families have five or more children

Amish vs. Cancer• Dr Judith Westman performed an 8 year study on 24 different types of cancer

within the Amish community in Ohio• Dr. Westman compared the Amish cancer rates with the rest of the population in

Ohio. This was then compared to the United States cancer statistics.• Westman found that the Amish cancer rate “ 40% lower than in the rest of

population in Ohio” and “63% lower than United States”• Studies found there was almost no occurrences of cervical cancer • Lower rate of skin cancer

Environmental/Community Factors

• Conservative rural values• Preference for natural antidotes• Lack of information• Awkwardness in high tech settings• Difficulties accessing healthcare• Willingness to suffer & lean on will of God

Environmental/Community Factors

• Cost• Influence of Bishop• Lack of technology based prenatal checkups • Restricted medication use• Lack of disease prevention

– causing small endemics

Health Promotion Theory

• Needs Theory– Virginia Henderson

• Nurses care for the patient until the patient is able to care for themselves.

• “describes people as whole, with many complex needs that motivate behavior. Everyone meets his or her needs in a unique way and may defer satisfying needs if they are not viewed as a priority at that time.”

Healthy People 2020• Attain high-quality, longer

lives free of preventable disease, disability, injury, and premature death.

• Achieve health equity, eliminate disparities, and improve the health of all groups.

• Create social and physical environments that promote good health for all.

• Promote quality of life, health development, and healthy behavior across all life stages.

Literature: Amish Go Their Own Way on Healthcare

• Exempt from Social Security taxes• No medical insurance• Healthcare funded through church aid, benefit

auctions, and negotiated discounts with local hospitals.• Extremely community-oriented• Medical costs kept down

through more active lifestyles.

Literature:Unique Aspects of Nursing Care for Amish

Children• School is finished by the

eighth grade level• Language barriers

(young children)• Hospital gown

considerations• Familial support

• Death – “God’s will”• Generosity and

thankfulness – “to reject their gift is to reject them as persons” (Banks & Benchot, 2001).

Literature:Spiritual and Alternative Health Practices

• A strong spiritual life and natural remedies contribute to health and well-being.

• Exercise is generally not needed. • Family physicians• Alternative therapies are limited.• Overall, the “Belief in the power of prayer to heal,

the use of natural remedies to cure, and trust in God's control over individual health” contribute to the Amish ideal of health and wellness (Sharpnack, Benders, Griffin, & Fitzpatrick, 2010).

AMISH QUESTION

• What organ cannot be transplanted from the Amish body?– A. Lung– B. Kidney– C. Eyes– D. Heart

ANSWER

• HEART –– The heart is the soul of the body…Unless the

child has not be baptized

References•Amherst 2004. (n.d.) [Amish Men]. http://galenf.com/1/us/amish713.jpg.

•Banks, M.J., & Benchot, R. (2001). Unique aspects of nursing care for Amish children. The American Journal of Maternal/Child Nursing, 26(4), 192-196.

http://0-ovidsp.tx.ovid.com.libcat.ferris.edu/sp-3.12.0b/ovidweb.cgi?WebLinkFrameset=1&S=FCGJFPFDLGDDADBBNCMKOGIBLOOHAA0

0&returnUrl=ovidweb.cgi%3f%26Full%2bText%3dL%257cS.sh.22.23%257c0%257c00005720-200107000-00008%26S%3dFCGJFPFDLGDDADBBNCM

KOGIBLOOHAA00&directlink=http%3a%2f%2fgraphics.tx.ovid.com%2fovftpdfs%2fFPDDNCIBOGBBLG00%2ffs046%2fovft%2flive%2fgv023%2f000

05721%2f00005721-200107000-00008.pdf&filename=Unique+Aspects+of+Nursing+Care+for+Amish+Children.&pdfkey=FPD FPDDNCIBOGB00&pdf _in

dex=/fs046/ovft/live/gv023/00005721/00005721-200107000-00008.

•Berg, N. (2012, August 1). Why the Amish Population is Exploding. The Atlantic CityLab. http://www.citylab.com/politics/2012/08/exploding-amish-

population-bubble/2795/.

•Byers, B., Crider, B. W., & Biggers, G. K. (1999). Bias Crime Motivation A Study of Hate Crime and Offender Neutralization Techniques Used Against

the Amish. Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice, 15(1), 78-96. http://0-ccj.sagepub.com.libcat.ferris.edu/content/15/1/78.full.pdf+html.

Facing Cancer Together. (n.d.). The Amish and cancer: Clean living can lead to a healthier life. Facing Cancer Together. http://facingcancertoge

ther.witf.org/healthy-lifestyle/the-amish-and-cancer-clean-living-can-lead-to-a-healthier-life-22312.

•Gillum, D. R., Staffileno, B. A., Schwartz, K. S., Coke, L., Fogg, L., & Reiling, D. Cardiovascular Disease in the Amish: An Exploratory Study of

Knowledge, Beliefs, and Health Care Practices. Holistic Nursing Practice, 25(6). doi:10.1097/HNP.0b013e318232c58d.

•Greksa, L.P., & Korbin, J.E. (n.d.) Overview of Culture Amish. http://www.case.edu/anth/documents/amish.pft.

References ContinuedIBRC. 2012. Number of Amish Adherants by State, 2010. [Photograph]. http://libguides.scf.edu/content.php?pid=107184&sid=1354168#APAIMAGENODATE.

Kraybill, D. B., Nolt, S. M., & Johnson-Weiner, K. (n.d.). Amish Studies. Amish Studies. fhttp://www2.etown.edu/amishstudies/Index.asp.

Kelley, D. (2013). Amish go their own way on Healthcare. Reuters Health e-Line. http://0-go.galegroup.com.libcat.ferris.edu/ps/i.do?action=interpret&id=GALE

%7CA344967630&v=2.1&u=lom_ferrissu&it=r&p=ITOF&sw=w&authCount=1.

Maville, J. A., & Huerta, C. G. (2013). Health promotion in nursing (3rd ed.). Clifton Park, NY: Delmar, Cengage Learning.

Mecosta County Area Convention & Visitors Bureau. (n.d.). Stanwood Area Amish Shops. http://bigrapids.org/files/437.pdf

Michigan Amish. (n.d.). Amish America. http://amishamerica.com/michigan-amish/.

O'Bryen, D. (n.d.). The Amish and the Modern Healthcare Industry. Missouri.edu. http://web.missouri.edu/~hartmanj/rs150/papers/obryenw003/html.

Seewer, J., ( 2013, August 23). [Photograph Bible and Stethoscope]. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/24/amish-girlrefuses-chemo_n_3806806.html.

Sharpnack, P. A., Quinn-Griffin, M. T., Benders, A. M., & Fitzpatrick, J. J. Spiritual and Alternative Healthcare Practices of the Amish. Holistic Nursing Practice, 24(2).

doi:10.1097/HNP.0b013e3181d39ade.

Szwarc, S., ( 2008, September 10). [ Photograph Amish Family on Buggy]. http://junkfoodscience.blogspot.com/2008/09/lessons-from-amish.html.

Treating the Amish and Addressing their Health Care Concerns A Practical Guide for Health Care Providers. (n.d.). Health-share.org. http://www.health-share.org/health-

info/docs/1700/1783.asp?index=3971&src=.

Things You Never See an Amish Person do (n.d.). The Chive. http://thechive.com/2011/06/22/things-you-should-never-see-an-amish-person-do-17-photos/.

Way Back Woman. n.d. [Photograph of Amish Buggy]. http://waybackwhenwoman.blogspot.com/2011/01/amish.html.

Weyer, S. M., Hustey, V. R., Rathbun, L., Armstrong, V. L., Anna, S. R., Ronyak, J., & Savrin, C. (2003). A look into the Amish culture: what should we learn?. Journal of

Transcultural Nursing, 14(2), 139-145. Retrieved from: http://www.uk.sagepub.com/newman8e/study/articles/04/Weyer%20et%20al..pdf.