VA Beach, VA Geographical questions

Please finish this assignment. You can look up the local area on the internet if needed.

1. The city of Virginia Beach, Va is a scenic stretch of land located at the juncture of Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. Once known mainly for its fields of fruit and grains -- the city as it stands today was not incorporated until 1963 -- the area has increasingly become a mecca for tourists intent on beach, boating or golf vacations. The city is also home to a large military population, and the sound of naval fighter planes is commonplace in the area. (Pearson, 2016)

Community vitality:

• Are people visible in the community? Upon driving around the neighborhood early in the morning, I see people walking around the trail with their partner or with a pet. I see people with any ages just enjoying the scenery especially the lake behind the community.

• Who are the people living in the neighborhood? In my neighborhood, its a nice, quiet community that mostly retired people reside. My neighbors from both sides are retired and are over 50 years old. I can say that we are the youngest in my neighborhood. Two houses down lived a grandmother and her 2 grandchildren ages 4 and 7 years old. What is their age range? What is the predominant age (e.g., elderly, preschoolers, young mothers, or school-aged children)?

• What ethnicity or race is most common? The majority that lived in my neighborhood are white and some asian descent.

• What is the general appearance of those you observed? Do they appear healthy? Do you notice any people with obvious disabilities, such as those using walkers or wheelchairs, or those with mental or emotional disabilities? Where do they live?

• Do you notice residents who are well nourished or malnourished, thin or obese, vigorous or frail, unkempt or scantily dressed, or well dressed and clean?

• Do you notice tourists or visitors to the community?

• Do you observe any people who appear to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol?

• Do you see any pregnant women? Do you see women with strollers and young children?

Upon driving around the neighborhood early in the morning, I see people walking around the trail with their partner or with a pet. I see people with any ages just enjoying the scenery especially the lake behind the community. Indian Lakes community is a nice, quiet community that most people that reside are retired. My neighbors from both sides are retired and are over 50 years old. I can say that we are the youngest in my neighborhood.. Two houses down lived a grandmother and her 2 grandchildren ages 4 and 7 years old.

In my observation, people in my community are well nourished, well dressed, and clean. I have seen people that are thin and some are overweight. Theres an elementary school half a mile from my house, therefore I have seen children from infant to 5th grade. I have seen pregnant moms dropping and picking up older siblings.

I have noticed a lot of tourist in my neighborhood, especially I ahev seen and influx of Pilipino tourist to this specific restaurant 2 miles away from my house. This is a well known stopped by the tourists to eat some Pilipino delicacies. I have not yet seen people that seem to be under the influence of drugs and alcohol in my neighborhood.

2. Indicators of social and economic conditions:

• What is the general condition of the homes you observe? Are these single-family homes or multifamily structures? Is there any evidence of dilapidated housing or of areas undergoing urban renewal? Is there public housing? What is its condition?

• What forms of transportation do people seem to be using? Is there public transit? Are there adequate bus stops with benches and shade? Is transportation to health care resources available?

• Are there any indicators of the kinds of work available to residents? Are there job opportunities nearby, such as factories, small businesses, or military installations? Are there unemployed people visible, such as homeless people?

• Do you see men congregating in groups on the street? What do they look like, and what are they doing?

• Is this a rural area? Are there farms or agricultural businesses?

• Do you note any seasonal workers, such as migrant or day laborers?

• Do you see any women hanging out along the streets? What are they doing?

• Do you observe any children or adolescents out of school during the daytime?

• Do you observe any interest in political campaigns or issues, such as campaign signs?

• Do you see any evidence of health education on billboards, advertisements, signs, radio stations, or television stations? Do these methods seem appropriate for the people you observed?

What kinds of schools and day care centers are available?

From what I have observed, homes are mostly single family homes. They are well kept and managed, clean, no signs of broken down front and back yard. Front year are well kept and people in my community take pride of their front yard. Some houses took time to decorate, plant some nice bushes and flowers around the house. I also noticed few private townhouses and apartment complexes. I haven't yet noticed any public transportation such as buses and taxi cabs.

The community is surrounded by a lot of private own moms and pops restaurants, local variety stores, gasoline stations, schools and restaurants. There are a lot of opportunities for employment and in fact I have seen "Hiring inside" posted outside the establishments.

I have notice some areas in my community where you can see people congregating outside their houses or outside establishment whether its a restaurant, grocery stores or a bar. Nothing that I have observed concerning in my opinion, these are just people hanging around with friends. Luckily, I haven't noticed any children or adolescent hanging around the neighborhood during school hours.

In addition to the people that lived in my community, I have seen some campaigns signs, education and product advertisement around the area. No sign posted that are inappropriate from public viewing.

When we moved here a month ago, I have searched for daycare centers for my 3 year old son. I can say, they have plenty of daycare around the area.

3. Health resources:

• Do you notice any hospitals? What kind are they? Where are they located?

• Are there any clinics? Whom do they serve? Are there any family planning services?

• Are there doctors' and dentists' offices? Are they specialists or generalists?

• Do you notice any nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, mental health clinics, alcohol or drug treatment centers, homeless or abused shelters, wellness clinics, health department facilities, urgent care centers, mobile health vehicles, blood donation centers, or pharmacies?

Are these resources appropriate and sufficient to address the kinds of problems that exist in this community?

There are 2 hospitals within 6 miles radius from my community. Few urgent care centers, dentist offices nearby. The place where I work is associated with some nursing homes and rehabilitation centers that my community serve for the people that needed care.

4. Environmental conditions related to health:

Do you see evidence of anything that might make you suspicious of ground, water, or air pollutants?

• What is the sanitary condition of the housing? Is housing overcrowded, dirty, or in need of repair? Are windows screened?

• What is the condition of the roads? Are potholes present? Are drainage systems in place? Are there low water crossings, and do they have warning signals? Are there adequate traffic lights, signs, sidewalks, and curbs? Are railroad crossings fitted with warnings and barriers? Are streets and parking lots well lit? Is this a heavily trafficked area, or are roads rural? Are there curves or features that make the roads hazardous?

• Is there handicapped access to buildings, sidewalks, and streets?

• Do you observe recreational facilities and playgrounds? Are they being used? Is there a YMCA/YWCA or community center? Are there any day care facilities or preschools?

• Are children playing in the streets, alleys, yards, or parks?

• Do you see any restaurants?

• Is food sold on the streets? Are people eating in public areas? Are there trash receptacles and places for people to sit? Are public restrooms available?

• What evidence of any nuisances such as ants, flies, mosquitoes, or rodents do you observe? Are there stray animals wandering in the neighborhood?

5. Social functioning:

• Do you observe any families in the neighborhoods? Can you observe their structure or functioning? Who is caring for the children? What kind of supervision do they have? Is more than one generation present?

• Are there any identifiable subgroups related to one another either socially or geographically?

• What evidence of a sense of neighborliness can you observe?

• What evidence of community cohesiveness can you observe? Are there any group efforts in the neighborhood to improve the living conditions or the neighborhood? Is there a neighborhood watch? Do community groups post signs for neighborhood meetings?

• How many and what type of churches, synagogues, and other places of worship are there?

Can you observe anything that would make you suspicious of social problems, such as gang activity, juvenile delinquency, drug or alcohol abuse, and adolescent pregnancy?

6. Attitude toward health and health care:

• Do you observe any evidence of folk medicine practice, such as a botanical or herbal medicine shop? Are there any alternative medicine practitioners?

• Do you observe that health resources are well utilized or underutilized?

• Is there evidence of preventive or wellness care?

Do you observe any efforts to improve the neighborhood's health? Planned health fairs? Do you see advertisements for health-related events, clinics, or lectures?

Pearson, J. (2016). Virginia Beach. Our States: Virginia, 1.