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. 2006 Jul;21(7):775-8.
doi: 10.1111/j.1525-1497.2006.00493.x.

BRIEF REPORT: the aging of the homeless population: fourteen-year trends in San Francisco

Judith A Hahn  1 , Margot B Kushel, David R Bangsberg, Elise Riley, Andrew R Moss
Affiliations

BRIEF REPORT: the aging of the homeless population: fourteen-year trends in San Francisco

Judith A Hahn et al. J Gen Intern Med. 2006 Jul.

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.

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Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Aging trends among the homeless in 6 North American cities
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

  • Older homeless adults: can we do more?
    Kushel M. Kushel M. J Gen Intern Med. 2012 Jan;27(1):5-6. doi: 10.1007/s11606-011-1925-0. J Gen Intern Med. 2012. PMID: 22086754 Free PMC article. No abstract available.

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