Running head: WINDSHIELD SURVEY OF GASLIGHT VILLAGE

Windshield Survey of Gaslight Village

Nga Le
Ferris State University

Windshield Survey Components

Housing and zoning
The housing architecture of the community mainly consists of vinyl and brick homes
with prices starting at the lowest of $200,000 and up. The home appears to be close to each other
but is individually distinguished by landscaping to give character and the same time protects
their privacy.
Transportation
People within the neighborhood were leisurely walking, jogging, biking, riding on their
moped, sailing, boating, and drove clean luxurious vehicles.
Race and ethnicity

The race mainly consisted of Caucasians, with a small number of African Americans,
Asians, and Indonesians.
Open space
Many parks were noted within the community, both private and public. Lawns were very
well manicured and maintained. The message of keeping active was apparent in the community
with the many parks, trails, community pool and center for organized activities and more.
Service centers
Although it is summer and the school is closed, activities on the school ground remains
active, the community library and pool were open for business. Doctors' and rehabilitation
offices were noted, along with a couple of real estate companies, and multiple parks and trails in
use.

Religion and politics

The predominant party affiliation was Republican as by evidence by multiple Republican
signs in front of the yard of many homes and business. From previous observation, it was noted
that the community religion is predominantly Christian Reform Church (CRC).
Boundaries
There are signs visually displaying Welcome to East Grand Rapids and Gaslight
Village noted as you enter the community. The real estate values of the homes are plainly noted
by the pristine architecture, yards and well-kept garden.
Stores and street people

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The main gathering is at the Gaslight Village with its many stores and restaurants such as
banks, exercise and art studios, pharmacy, cleaner, dental office, high-end clothing store, nail and
spa, with the hot spot being Jersey Junction, the homemade ice cream shop. The community
appears to dress fairly conservative and classy. They also seem tightly knitted as families, young
couples, teenagers and their pet dogs were out and about in the community commons hanging
out, sitting outside on the patio, enjoying the nice weather and company.
Health and morbidity
Blodgett hospital is within a half-a-mile down the road, with a rehabilitation facility
located in the commons at the Gaslight Village. There was no physical evidence of any acute or
chronic conditions observed of the people in the community.
Commons
The neighborhood commons is the Gas Light Village where people hang out to shop and
dine with normal hours being in the early morning till 10 p.m.

Signs of decay
The only sign of decay noted was the roads with cracks and pot holes.
Media
The only media observed through the drive-by windshield survey was the political signs
in the yards.
Windshield Survey of Gaslight Village
Community, community health, and population vs individual care
A community is defined as a group of people sharing common interests, needs,
resources, and environment; an interrelating and interacting group of people with shared needs

WINDSHIELD SURVEY OF GASLIGHT VILLAGE

and interests (Harkness & DeMarco, 2012, p.175). Moreover, community-oriented nursing is
providing care to individuals within the community and public health nursing is caring for the
people within the community that makes up entire population (Harkness & DeMarco, 2012).
Additionally, community health nursing is the use of systematic processes to deliver care to
individual people, families, and community groups with a focus on promoting, preserving,
protecting, and maintaining health (Harkness & DeMarco, 2012, p. 9).
Healthy People 2020 health indicator
A health indicator of focus for this population group is nutrition, physical activity, and
obesity from Healthy People 2020. According to Healthy People 2020 (2014) adults that meets
the federal guidelines for physical activity and muscle strengthening for 18 years and up target of
20.1% was met from 2008-2012.

Four health risks aspects of the community

Health behaviors
Even though obesity is one of the biggest health risks in the United States that causes
many health conditions such as type 2 diabetes, liver disease, stroke, cancer, respiratory
problems, hypertension and many other cardiac issues, however, this community appeared not to
be affected. Overall, the community appeared to be in good physical shape and health with a low
risk of being overweight and obese. Individuals were observed to be engaging in multiple
activities such as walking, running, rowing, biking, and participating in various sports like
swimming, soccer, tennis, and baseball.

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Clinical care
Neighborhoods with higher incomes tend to be able to afford health insurance and have a
higher quality of life through routine preventative health maintenance and care. It is presumed
by the look and the life style of the people in the community that they have access to health care,
meaning that individuals healthcare needs are being met. It also assumed that this community
can afford high quality healthcare that is safe, effective, and is done in a timely fashion. This
reduces the probability of receiving inappropriate or unnecessary care which can lead to a poor
health outcome, prolonged hospital stay, or readmission.
Social and economic factors
In this category, family and social support, along with employment will be discussed.
Firstly, the lack of adequate family and social support can leave individuals vulnerable to stress,
leading to health issues such as depression, smoking, drinking, overeating, obesity, and
cardiovascular disease. Perhaps it is because this community is richer, and is able to provide
those in the community with greater access and support, because from afar the family and social
support of this community group seems to be intact. Everyone looked to be socially energetic,
spending time with their family and demonstrating social openness amongst others in the
community with familiar greetings and hugs. This community group is notably cohesive, a
capital-rich neighborhood that protect their community and set high standards in encouraging
physical and mental health and facilitate healthy choices and behaviors.
Secondly, employment too, does not seem to be a risk factor in this community group
either. Education plays an important role in job attainment. The higher the education level, the
higher the wages, the less likely that the working condition is hazardous. The additional perks of
fair employment along with the income are the benefits, such as paid time off for vacations, paid

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sick leave, and health insurance in supporting and promoting both the quality of life and the
communitys overall health.
Physical environment
A clean physical environment is crucial in supporting a healthy community. Clean
physical environment consists of clean air and safe drinking water that helps in supporting a
healthy development and function of the mind and body. It is important for communities to
adopt and implement strategies to improve and protect the air and water in supporting a healthy
community and environment. In this group, a clean physical environment was evident by a
sound and healthy community, with clean water that is safe for drinking and swimming, where
fish from the lake are safe for consumption, where lakes are free of harmful algae that create
poisonous toxins in water, which can lead to gastro-intestinal illnesses, respiratory and
neurological problems in those who come into contact with the polluted water. The overall
windshield survey impression is that the health risks of the Gaslight Village Community
observed to be low to non-detectable, but then again this is a birds eyes view windshield survey.

WINDSHIELD SURVEY OF GASLIGHT VILLAGE

References
Harkness, G. A., & DeMarco, R. F. (2012). Community and Public Health Nursing; Evidence for
Practice. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2014). Healthy People 2020 Leading Health
Indicators: Progress Update. Retrieved from
http://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/lhi/progressUpdate.aspx