Health-related Social Needs Don't Stop During the Holiday Season

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Health Equity Monthly Focus
By Anita Ramsetty, MD, Director of Health Equity

November 2025

The several-month stretch between October through mid-February marks a time of many holidays for various religious and ethnic groups in this country. During those holidays there can be periods of fasting, feasting, religious observation, specific rituals and services, gift giving, and decorations. They can all bring tremendous joy and meaning to the time, but amidst those celebrations and observations our daily “regular” needs continue. In fact, some of those needs become more pressing and urgent during those holidays because of additional stressors including financial concerns and food access.

At Englewood Health, we continue screening health-related social needs, otherwise known as social determinants of health. Healthcare facilities have recognized these non-medical factors—including literacy, health literacy (how you understand and use healthcare information), finances, language, food access, education and social contacts—can all influence your health in various ways. In fact up to 85% of your health is thought to be influenced by those factors.

In recognition of this, we do our best to help address what we can in partnership with our patients and their support systems. FindHelp is our publicly available site where anyone can locate available resources according to zip code and specific type of need. Our inpatient and outpatient teams utilize this to work with all patients in the plans of directing them toward resources to that can be of benefit.

I encourage you to view the screening process as an opportunity to discuss those needs with your healthcare team. In this way we provide not only the highest levels of medical care but ensure we help address as much of your health-related needs towards your being your best, healthiest self going forward.