'The Thing that Really Gets Me Is the Future': Symptomatology in Older Homeless Adults in the HOPE HOME Study

Journal of Pain and Symptom Management
Adam BazariMargot B Kushel

Abstract

The homeless population is aging. Older homeless adults experience premature development of age-related conditions and an elevated symptom burden. Little is known about symptom experience among older homeless adults. To characterize the experience, understanding, and management of physical, psychological, social (e.g., loneliness), and existential (e.g., regret, loss of dignity) symptoms among older homeless adults. We conducted semistructured interviews from June 2016 to March 2017 with a purposive sample of participants from the Health Outcomes of People Experiencing Homelessness in Older Middle Age cohort, a longitudinal study of homeless adults aged 50 and older. We analyzed data between June 2016 and December 2017 using thematic analysis. We found four main themes: 1) nonphysical symptoms are interwoven with, and as distressing as, physical symptoms; 2) individuals attribute symptoms to childhood abuse, manual labor, the conditions of homelessness, and aging; 3) symptoms interfere with daily functioning, causing negative changes in personality, energy, and motivation; and 4) individuals cope with symptoms through religion, social support, and substance use. Homelessness causes and exacerbates physical and psychological dis...Continue Reading

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Citations

Jan 4, 2020·Academic Psychiatry : the Journal of the American Association of Directors of Psychiatric Residency Training and the Association for Academic Psychiatry·Elizabeth M MooreRoya Ijadi-Maghsoodi

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