"I Don't Want to Die on the Street": Patient and Practitioner Perspectives on Street-Based Care for Older Adults Experiencing Unsheltered Homelessness.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Unsheltered older adults experiencing homelessness constitute the fastest-growing segment of the US unhoused population. Research shows that older unsheltered adults have more chronic health conditions and experience accelerated aging. Little is known about the unique considerations in providing care and support for this population.

Objective

To explore the experiences of aging and managing serious illness from people experiencing unsheltered homelessness and from the street medicine team members who care for them.

Design

Qualitative, semi-structured in-depth individual interviews.

Participants

Street medicine team members and patients receiving street medicine in Los Angeles.

Approach

Interviews were guided by a semi-structured interview guid

SUBMITTER: Mittal A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12508372 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature