“We Really Help, Taking Care of Each Other”: Older Homeless Adults as Caregivers

Rosenwohl-Mack, Sarah; Kushel, Margot; Ramsey, Claire; Handley, Margaret A.; Knight, Kelly R.

doi:10.1177/2333721419894765

Cited by 4 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…This analysis is focused on research findings in the domains of community and policy factors. We have reported results addressing individual and relationship factors that influence motivations, barriers and facilitators to temporary stays with family and friends among older homeless adults elsewhere (Knight et al, 2021;Rosenwohl-Mack et al, 2019)…”

Section: Theoretical Approachmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…They saw these stays as a respite from the experience of homelessness that offered mutual emotional and financial benefits. Interpersonal relationships between older homeless adults and their hosts were characterized by desires for mutual caregiving and support and challenged by conflicts related to substance use and experiences of intergenerational trauma (Handley et al, 2020;Rosenwohl-Mack et al, 2019).…”

Section: Brief Characterization Of Temporary Staysmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Barriers and facilitators to resolving older adult homelessness through stays with family: qualitative findings from the HOPE HOME study

Cai

Knight

Olsen

et al. 2022

Journal of Social Distress and Homelessness

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Living with family and friends is a common strategy used to prevent or exit homelessness, but little is known about structural barriers that impede family and friends' ability to provide temporary or permanent housing for older homeless adults. We conducted semistructured interviews with46 homeless participants from the HOPE HOME study, a cohort of 350 community-recruited homeless adults age 50 or older in Oakland, CA, who reported having stayed with housed family/friends for 1 or more nights in the prior 6 months. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 19 hosts of homeless participants and 11 stakeholders in housing and homelessness. We found that homeless older adults and hosts perceived staying with family or friends as a form of temporary housing rather than as a permanent exit to homelessness.Structural barriers to family and friends providing housing for temporary stays or permanent exits from homelessness included housing regulations restricting visitors and changing rent obligations; decreased eligibility and priority for shelter and permanent housing; geographic and transportation challenges; and environments inconducive to older adults. We suggest four areas for policy reform: providing subsidies to hosts and homeless individuals, removing disincentives for homeless older adults to stay with family, changing lease regulations, and expanding the supply of affordable housing.

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Section: Theoretical Approachmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Brief Characterization Of Temporary Staysmentioning

confidence: 99%

Barriers and facilitators to resolving older adult homelessness through stays with family: qualitative findings from the HOPE HOME study

Cai

Knight

Olsen

et al. 2022

Journal of Social Distress and Homelessness

Self Cite

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show abstract

“…In some cases, the older adult experiencing homelessness contributed materially to the household, through contributing to rent or food. In other cases, they provided services, such as childcare or eldercare (Rosenwohl-Mack, Kushel, Ramsey, et al 2019).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Temporary stays with housed family and friends among older adults experiencing homelessness: Qualitative findings from the HOPE HOME study

Knight

Weiser

Handley

et al. 2021

Qualitative Social Work

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Background The proportion of adults age 50 and older experiencing homelessness is growing. People at risk for homelessness may stay with family and friends during homelessness episodes. Moving in with housed family and friends is a strategy used to exit homelessness. Little is known about these stays with family and friends. This study examined the motivations for and challenges of older adults experiencing homelessness staying with or moving in with family or friends. Methods We purposively sampled 46 participants from the HOPE HOME study, a cohort of 350 community-recruited adults experiencing homelessness age ≥50 in Oakland, CA. Inclusion criteria included having stayed with housed family/friends for ≥1 nights in the prior 6 months. We sampled 19 family/friends who had hosted participants experiencing homelessness. We conducted separate, semi-structured interviews, summarized, memoed and coded data consistent using a grounded theory approach. Results Older adults experiencing homelessness reported primarily temporary stays. Motivations for stays on the part of participants included a need for environmental, physical, and emotional respite from homelessness. Both individuals experiencing homelessness and hosts cited the mutual benefits of stays. Barriers to stays included feelings of shame, concerns about burdening the hosts, and interpersonal conflicts between older adults experiencing homelessness and host participants. Conclusions There are potential opportunities and concerns surrounding temporary stays between older adults experiencing homelessness and their family or friends. Policy solutions should support the potential mutual benefits of temporary stays, while addressing interpersonal barriers to strengthen kinship and friendship networks and mediate the negative impacts of homelessness.

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Meaningful Healthcare and Social Service Access for Homeless Populations: Generating Alliances Through Theories of Therapeutic Landscape

Johnson,

Light

2024

Journal of Progressive Human Services

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“We Really Help, Taking Care of Each Other”: Older Homeless Adults as Caregivers

Cited by 4 publications

References 21 publications

Barriers and facilitators to resolving older adult homelessness through stays with family: qualitative findings from the HOPE HOME study

Barriers and facilitators to resolving older adult homelessness through stays with family: qualitative findings from the HOPE HOME study

Temporary stays with housed family and friends among older adults experiencing homelessness: Qualitative findings from the HOPE HOME study

Meaningful Healthcare and Social Service Access for Homeless Populations: Generating Alliances Through Theories of Therapeutic Landscape

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