for Elderly People

research
summary
A Case Study of a Homelessness
Intervention Programme
for Elderly People
What is
this research
about?
This research studies the
ability of the Homelessness
Intervention Program
(HIP) to address the needs
of elderly people who
are homeless or at risk
I
n an aging population, it is expect-
others have become homeless, for
ed that there will be an increase
the first time, later in life. There has
in the number of elderly homeless
been little research on intervention
people. Low income, physical and
programs directed at elder home-
mental health problems, alcohol
lessness, and their particular needs
meet the needs of the
use and death of a close relative are
are only recently being understood.
clients or stood in its way.
some of the reasons that elderly peo-
HIP began in 2001 as a response to
ple become homeless. Some elderly
this growing homeless population of
people have experienced homeless-
seniors living in a large urban centre
ness throughout their lives, while
in southwestern Ontario.
of homelessness and it
describes the factors that
either helped the program
KEYWORDS
case management, continuity of care,
elderly people, outreach
Summary Date: February 2011
1
What you need to know?
ARTICLE SOURCE
Ploeg, Jenny; Hayward, Lynda; Woodward, Christel; Johnston, Riley. A case study of
a Canadian homelessness intervention programme for elderly people. Health and
Social Care in the Community (2008) 16(6), 593–605.
Visit www.homelesshub.ca for more information
What did the researchers do?
The researchers studied the impact
housing stability of
that HIP has on the ongoing care
seniors experiencing
of elderly people who are either
homelessness.
homeless or at risk of homelessness.
Ten interviews were
Over 28 months, program providers
conducted
completed intake forms, monthly
focus groups were held with
follow-up forms and exit/housing
clients, program providers,
change forms to figure out whether or
service providers and program
not HIP was helping the health and
funders.
What did the
researchers find?
tal health conditions have trust issues
continuity” allowed the primary ser-
and find it difficult to form and stay
vice provider the knowledge to manage
in relationships. This was known as
the clients’ services over time, making
The researchers found that the com-
“relational continuity”. Secondly,
sure that the services complimented
plex care of seniors was best addressed
this relationship gave the service pro-
each other rather than being repetitive
by using one service provider to coor-
vider access to important information
or unnecessary. Additionally, the re-
dinate all of their service needs. This
about the clients’ history that could be
searchers acknowledged low-income
ongoing care was known as “conti-
shared with service agencies to bet-
housing, cuts to home-care and trans-
nuity of care”. Firstly, this primary
ter meet the clients’ needs. This was
portation services, and insufficient
provider was able to form trusting
called “informational continuity”.
incomes to be some of the systemic
relationships with the clients, which
It included information about the cli-
problems falling outside of HIP’s abil-
was considered to be necessary as
ents’ history, current situation, wants
ity to provide ongoing care to seniors
many of the clients living with men-
and desires. Thirdly, “management
experiencing homelessness.
and
three
how can you use this research?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
This research can be used to highlight the benefits of having one primary
Associate Professor in
service provider in a position to coordinate clients’ overall care, and to
the School of Nursing
provide direction and advocacy through the many services used by seniors
at McMaster University.
at risk of homelessness. Because there is little known about the particular
Her research interests
issues faced by elderly homeless people, future research is needed on
include evaluating
strategies that prevent them from becoming homeless. This research
services for older adults and
can also be used to address the need to look at increased incomes and
caregivers, evidence-based practices,
affordable housing options for seniors as a way to possibly prevent this
and qualitative research.
growing segment of the homeless population.
Dr. Jenny Ploeg is an
Visit www.homelesshub.ca for more information
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