“No Home, No Place”: Addressing the Complexity of Homelessness in Old Age Through Community Dialogue

Abstract

The aging-in-place agenda supports the right of seniors to live in their preferred environment, as the place where they can retain a sense of independence and control in old age. This right is compromised for vulnerable seniors who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. Causes of homelessness in old age are complex, and pathways into and out of homelessness are multifaceted, including financial insecurity, relationship breakdown, and addiction, compounded by barriers to accessing services, shrinking social support networks, and complex health challenges. Addressing the multidimensional nature of homelessness in old age requires holistic solutions that bring together the knowledge and expertise of multiple stakeholders, not least seniors themselves. With this aim, this paper reports on findings from multistakeholder community dialogue sessions conducted across Metro Vancouver with seniors' organizations, service providers, and local government to prioritize the challenges of senior homelessness in Metro Vancouver and propose strategies and solutions for addressing the issue. The paper highlights some of the ways in which services and housing supports can be designed to support older adults who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.

A Portrait of Late Life Homelessness in Calgary, Alberta

“…Researchers have also shown that individuals experiencing homelessness over the age of 50 have serious mental health concerns (Garibaldi, Conde-Martel, & O'Toole, 2005;Joyce & Limbos, 2009) and more frequent hospital admissions and ambulatory care than their younger counterparts (Brown & Steinman, 2013). This group faces additional unique health issues including high rates of physical disability, mobility and sensory limitations, and sometimes dementia (HomelessHub, n.d.; Woolrych, Gibson, Sixsmith, & Sixsmith, 2015). Older homeless adults have a life expectancy that is 15-25 years lower than the general population (Woolrych et al, 2015).…”

“…This group faces additional unique health issues including high rates of physical disability, mobility and sensory limitations, and sometimes dementia (HomelessHub, n.d.; Woolrych, Gibson, Sixsmith, & Sixsmith, 2015). Older homeless adults have a life expectancy that is 15-25 years lower than the general population (Woolrych et al, 2015). Metraux and colleagues estimate an average life expectancy of 64 years (Metraux, Eng, Bainbridge, & Culhane, 2011).…”

Envejecimiento, educación y virtualización tecnológica

“…Por otro lado, respecto a la «estimulación social» (la interacción social, la participación activa y el compromiso social de las personas mayores), constituyen un factor de envejecimiento exitoso y saludable indiscutible. Por ello, son diversos los proyectos tecnológicos que proponen webs y blogs sociales, proyectos de mentoria social apoyados en plataformas virtuales, redes sociales, etc., que buscan garantizar un envejecimiento realmente activo, optimizando las oportunidades de salud, participación y seguridad y, en definitiva, mejorar la calidad de vida a medida que las personas envejecen (oms, 2012;Sixsmith, 2013Sixsmith, , 2015.…”

“…De este modo, el desarrollo de la revolución digital, que afecta prácticamente a todas las esferas de la vida humana, desempeña un papel fundamental en el cambio de ese modelo, a favor de una visión de la vejez activa, saludable y comunitariamente participativa (McCreadie y Tinker, 2005;Sixsmith, 2013;Woolrych, Gibson, Sixsmith y Sixsmith, 2015). Por este motivo, el mayor o menor uso de determinados dispositivos en cualquier faceta de la vida de los mayores, así como la facilidad de conectividad y ubicuidad que presentan, está conduciendo a muchos investigadores a analizar procesos de rutinización de la tecnología vinculados al envejecimiento.…”

Scientific production on housing for autonomous elderly persons: an integrative literature review

“…Based on the studies that tackle this issue, it is clear that quality of life in old age depends on lifelong interactions and many elements, such as longevity, biological health, mental health, satisfaction, cognitive control, social competence, productivity, activity, efficacy cognitive, social status, income, the continuity of family and occupational roles, and continuity of informal relationships with friends 31 .…”