The Stanton Park neighborhood of Washington D.C. sits next to the Capitol Hill neighborhood where some of the important buildings that house the federal government of the United States are located. Stanton Park is an upper middle class community, but there are pockets of poverty within it also. In a city that is predominantly populated by African Americans. Stanton Park is predominantly white, middle class and educated. The homes are fairly new constructions including many townhomes and row houses. There are green spaces throughout, and Lincoln Park sits on one side of the Stanton Park area. The main health concerns in the area are heart disease, cancer and other chronic illnesses that are the same for the entire region and the entire of the United States. Health disparities exist to a degree in the Washington D.C. area as a whole, and probably in the Stanton Park area as well. However, the city of Washington D.C. and the District of Columbia are working to eliminate health disparities and other issues with 2020 as their goal.
The Stanton Park neighborhood of Washington D.C. is near the Library of Congress and the Supreme Court. It is also not far from Capitol Hill. Population is 18,252 and the website, Niche.com (2019) gives it a B+ for diversity. This is because there is about 69% white, 18% black, 6% Hispanic, Asian population is at 4% , and the mixed race population is 3% (Niche, 2019). Eighty percent of those residents have attended some college, 34% have a Bachelor’s degree, and 46% have a Master’s degree. Females outnumber males 54% to 46%, The median household income is $128,355 and 41% of the residents in the neighborhood make over $150,000. Only 8% make less than $25,000 (Niche, 2019). For the entire city of Washington D.C., the largest age demographic is 18 to 64. The two groups, 18 to 34 and 35 to 64 make up 35% and 36% of the population respectively. Older residents number 11% and young people are 17% of the population (Plan DC, 2014). According to Love (2019) of Redfin Realty, home prices in the Stanton Hill neighborhood of Washington D.C. range from the high $300,000 to the mid $700,000 (Love, 2019). Love (2019) says it is a competitive market too.
The District of Columbia is unusual in many ways. There is the whole network of federal buildings and many of the residents of the city are employed by the federal government. Another unusual fact about Washington D.C. is that the largest racial demographic is African American according to the District of Columbia Department of Health (2014). “In highly diverse populations like the District of Columbia, constantly changing demographic characteristics have important implications for the health of residents. Health disparities—inequalities in determinants of health or health outcomes between groups of people—are essential considerations when promoting healthy behaviors and safe communities, implementing efforts to prevent disease and disability, and distributing healthcare services” (District of Columbia Department of Health, 2014, p. 10).
Other indicators of health include life expectancy and mortality rates. “In the District of Columbia, average life expectancy has climbed to a historic high of 77.5 years in 2010, a 10-year gain from the life expectancy in the early 1990’s. District residents are expected to live 1 year shorter than the average United States resident” (District of Columbia Department of Health, 2014, p. 18). Causes of mortality include heart disease as the number one cause of death at 28%, cancer causes 22% of all deaths, and other causes are accountable for 26%. HIV/AIDS, homicides, accidents, cerebrovascular issues, chronic lower respiratory issues, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, and septicemia all caused less than 5% of deaths each (District of Columbia Department of Health, 2014). Deaths from heart disease and cancer have decreased, but the other causes have all remained steady since 2010.
The Department of Health (2016) says that mortality rates declined overall in 2015. Cancer is a concern though. Like everywhere, lung and breast cancers affect District of Columbia residents at a higher rate than the rest of the country. All cancers affect the African American population disproportionately, and more African American residents of the District die from cancer. “A range of hard-to-reach demographic groups have unmet needs relating to information, support and cancer services. There is evidence of inequities at each stage of the patient pathway, from information provision through palliative care” (Government of the District of Columbia Department of Health, 2016, p. 27). Another disease the disproportionally affects African Americans is diabetes. The ra
Order this paper