Challenges of Providing End-of-Life Care for Homeless Veterans

Evelyn Hutt, Emily Whitfield, Sung Joon Min, Jacqueline Jones, Mary Weber, Karen Albright, Cari Levy, Thomas O’Toole

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective: To describe challenges of caring for homeless veterans at end of life (EOL) as perceived by Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) homeless and EOL care staff. Design: E-mail survey. Setting/participants: Homelessness and EOL programs at VAMCs. Measurements: Programs and their ratings of personal, structural, and clinical care challenges were described statistically. Homelessness and EOL program responses were compared in unadjusted analyses and using multivariable models. Results: Of 152 VAMCs, 50 (33%) completed the survey. The VAMCs treated an average of 6.5 homeless veterans at EOL annually. Lack of appropriate housing was the most critical challenge. The EOL programs expressed somewhat more concern about lack of appropriate care site and care coordination than did homelessness programs. Conclusions: Personal, clinical, and structural challenges face care providers for veterans who are homeless at EOL. Deeper understanding of these challenges will require qualitative study of homeless veterans and care providers.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)381-389
Number of pages9
JournalThe American journal of hospice & palliative care
Volume33
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - May 1 2016
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • homelessness
  • palliative care
  • veteran

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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