Understanding the Phenomenon of Older Adult Homelessness in North America

A Qualitative Interpretive Meta-Synthesis

Bibliographic Data

ID10895320
AuthorsErin Roark Murphy (0000-0002-2414-2738, School of Social Work, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, USA, corresponding author), Brittany H Eghaneyan (0000-0001-5358-2962, School of Social Work, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, USA)
Year2018
Volume48
Issue8
Pages2361-2380
Publication date2018-12-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueThe British Journal of Social Work (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0045-3102 • E-ISSN: 1468-263X
PublisherOxford University Press (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1093/bjsw/bcx163
OpenAlexW2790939814
LanguageEN
Citations received10
References cited28

Research demonstrates that homelessness among older adults will significantly increase in the coming decades due to population ageing, a trend of first-time homelessness at mid-life and continued economic vulnerability into old age without appropriate prevention and policy response. The objective of this study was to generate a rich description of homelessness as told by older adults using a qualitative interpretive meta-synthesis (QIMS). This approach is appropriate to synthesise multiple qualitative studies into a more holistic, broader understanding of the phenomenon (Aguirre and Bolton, 2014). An exhaustive search yielded 144 potentially relevant studies. Eight of these studies met the inclusion criteria for further analyses. A priori inclusion criteria included studies: (i) published in peer-reviewed journals or dissertations; (ii) published in English prior to January 2017; (iii) sampling older adults experiencing homelessness in the USA or Canada; (iv) conducted using qualitative or mixed-method designs, and (v) including the voices of participants through direct quotes. Synthesis of the eight studies resulted in two subthemes that describe older adult homelessness: systemic failings and coping mechanisms and survival behaviours. Micro- and macro-level practice and policy recommendations are addressed.

Coping (psychology) · Inclusion (mineral) · Phenomenon · Population · Qualitative research · Social science · Sociology · Vulnerability (computing) · Clinical Psychology · Demography · Geriatric Care and Nursing Homes · Homelessness and Social Issues · Housing, Finance, and Neoliberalism · Medicine · Psychology · Social Psychology · Gerontology

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