C3 Barriers and obstacles to following recommendations Typeit

The health and social care system faces a number of unique problems that prevent an individual from accessing a service. These are known as . Some of the most common are covered below.

Physical impairments/disabilities
Some people do not possess the physical ability to access certain services. For example, would need to be present if meeting rooms or toilet facilities aren't located on the ground floor of a building, as it would be very off-putting for people who struggle to climb steps, and impossible for people with physical disabilities who use wheelchairs.

Sensory disabilities
If an individual has a sensory disability, such as a vision impairment or a hearing difficulty, this could make it harder for them to carry out their plans. This is because there may be limited access to specially trained people in the health and social care industry who are skilled in assisting people who have sensory impairments, such as a  language interpreter for someone with hearing difficulties, or an assistant to collect and guide someone with a vision impairment from a waiting area. Moreover, a facility may not have hearing systems installed to assist people with hearing difficulties, or leaflets in for people with vision impairments.

Geography
If services are difficult to access, it is likely to be hard for someone to achieve the goals of their plan. For instance, services which are located a long way away with poor public links would be very difficult for someone living in a rural area to access.

Social and cultural backgrounds
Certain people may feel  talking about certain lifestyle choices, such as misusing substances or drinking large amounts of alcohol, which might prevent them from seeking help. Therefore, health and social care providers must be proactive in these behaviours so that people feel more inclined to reach out. Also, certain cultures may have different beliefs on ways of dealing with health and wellbeing issues, which should be considered in the -centred approach taken by the health and social care provider.

Language
For many people, English isn't a first language, so the use of health and social care services will be limited if there are not available in an individual's first language.

Resources
Service providers may not have the resources required to satisfy all individuals who request help. For instance, some charity providers may have a limited from which they can pay staff, and many staff may even be volunteers, meaning that the availability of support may be quite limited.

Finances
A lot of recommendations provided by health and social care workers may come at a , which an individual may be unable to afford; for example, gym memberships to increase levels of , public transport and fuel costs to access support groups, or prescriptions to treat an illness. Therefore, service providers must work with the individual's financial circumstances to offer recommendations that are within budget. This may include advising on the help offered by the , such as exemption certificates which entitle certain individuals to free to help with medical costs.