Evelyn Hutt1, Emily Whitfield2, Sung-Joon Min3, Jacqueline Jones4, Mary Weber4, Karen Albright3, Cari Levy2, Thomas O'Toole5. 1. Denver Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC), Denver, CO, USA Department of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Denver, CO, USA evelyn.hutt@ucdenver.edu. 2. Denver Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC), Denver, CO, USA Department of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Denver, CO, USA. 3. Department of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Denver, CO, USA. 4. University of Colorado College of Nursing, Denver, CO, USA. 5. Providence Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Providence, RI, USA Department of Medicine, Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA.
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.
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.
Authors: Hanna T Klop; Anke J E de Veer; Jaap R G Gootjes; Dike van de Mheen; Igor R van Laere; Marcel T Slockers; Bregje D Onwuteaka-Philipsen Journal: BMC Palliat Care Date: 2022-06-23 Impact factor: 3.113
Authors: Hanna T Klop; Anke J E de Veer; Sophie I van Dongen; Anneke L Francke; Judith A C Rietjens; Bregje D Onwuteaka-Philipsen Journal: BMC Palliat Care Date: 2018-04-24 Impact factor: 3.234