A man sleeps on a Toronto street on Friday, March 11, 2022. A new report shows more older adults are becoming homeless, and shelters aren't equipped to handle their physical or mental health needs. (Photo: Chris Young/The Canadian Press)
A new report highlights that shelters are ill-equipped to meet the physical and mental health needs of the increasing number of older adults who are homeless.
Dr. Jillian Alston, the lead author and a geriatrician at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto, states that homeless individuals age faster than those with stable housing due to constant stress and poor management of chronic conditions. The paper, published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, notes that many homeless people are considered seniors as early as age 50.
Dr. Alston explains that shelters often lack essential support for seniors, such as safe medication storage and proper wound care. Seniors with mobility issues face a higher risk of falls, and those with cognitive impairments are more likely to be victimized in these environments.
Several factors contribute to the rising number of homeless seniors, including an aging population, a crisis in affordable housing, and life changes like losing a partner, sustaining an injury, or living on a reduced income. Alston emphasizes the need for preventive measures, such as supportive housing that offers integrated medical, mental health, and addiction services.
She stresses that health care and housing should not be viewed separately, as they are deeply interconnected. The report combines clinical observations and reviews of multiple studies to explore the issue of senior homelessness. It reveals that some individuals have aged into their senior years while homeless, while others become homeless later in life due to various circumstances.
Alston shares an example of a socially isolated senior who develops cognitive issues, neglects to pay bills, gets evicted, and ends up in a shelter. Some seniors are homeless while waiting for long-term care placements. She mentions seeing individuals in their 80s and even a few in their 90s in shelters, expressing a belief that society can do better in addressing this issue.
The article, published by The Canadian Press, underscores the urgent need to better support the health and housing needs of homeless seniors through integrated services and preventative measures.
