BRIEF REPORT: the Aging of the Homeless Population: Fourteen-year Trends in San Francisco

Overview

Journal J Gen Intern Med

Publisher Springer

Specialty General Medicine

Date 2006 Jul 1

PMID 16808781

Citations 61

Authors

Judith A Hahn

Margot B Kushel

David R Bangsberg

Elise Riley

Andrew R Moss

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Homelessness is associated with high rates of health and substance use problems.

Objective: To examine trends in the age, housing, health status, health service utilization, and drug use of the homeless population over a 14-year period.

Design: Serial cross-sectional.

Participants: We studied 3,534 literally homeless adults recruited at service providers in San Francisco in 4 waves: 1990-1994, 1996-1998, 1999-2000, and 2003.

Measurements: Age, time homeless, self-reported chronic conditions, hospital and emergency department utilization, and drug and alcohol use.

Results: The median age of the homeless increased from 37 to 46 over the study waves, at a rate of 0.66 years per calendar year (P<.01). The median total time homeless increased from 12 to 39.5 months (P<.01). Emergency department visits, hospital admissions, and chronic health conditions increased.

Conclusions: The homeless population is aging by about two thirds of a year every calendar year, consistent with trends in several other cities. It is likely that the homeless are static, aging population cohort. The aging trends suggest that chronic conditions will become increasingly prominent for homeless health services. This will present challenges to traditional approaches to screening, prevention, and treatment of chronic diseases in an aging homeless population.

Citing Articles

Digital Interventions for Older People Experiencing Homelessness: Systematic Scoping Review.

Adams E, Donaghy E, Sanders C, Wolters M, Ng L, St-Jean C J Med Internet Res. 2025; 27:e63898.

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Late-Life Homelessness: A Definition to Spark Action and Change.

Grenier A, Sussman T Gerontologist. 2024; 64(11).

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"We Remember the Pain": A qualitative study of intergenerational trauma among older adults experiencing homelessness in the HOPE HOME study.

Hargrave A, Garcia C, Lightfoot M, Handley M, Weeks J, Olsen P J Soc Distress Homeless. 2024; 33(1):103-111.

PMID: 38948456 PMC: 11213552. DOI: 10.1080/10530789.2022.2080793.

Eye Disease Prevalence and VF-14 Validation Among Patients Experiencing Homelessness and Presenting for Ophthalmic Examination in Baltimore, Maryland.

Vinnett A, Tariq Z, Alvarez J, Andrews L, Okezie N, Levin M Transl Vis Sci Technol. 2023; 12(11):7.

PMID: 37922150 PMC: 10629521. DOI: 10.1167/tvst.12.11.7.

Using behavioral theory to adapt advance care planning for homeless-experienced older adults in permanent supportive housing.

Pajka S, Kushel M, Handley M, Olsen P, Li B, Enriquez C J Am Geriatr Soc. 2023; 71(8):2615-2626.

PMID: 36928791 PMC: 10440262. DOI: 10.1111/jgs.18314.

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