Formerly Homeless, Older Women's Experiences with Health, Housing, and Aging

Abstract

The perspectives of formerly homeless, older women are absent in the academic literature on aging and homelessness. In this study, a group of formerly homeless women, aged 45 years and older were surveyed (N = 15) and interviewed (n = 11) about their experiences with health, housing, and aging. The qualitative themes to be explored include the women's perceptions of their current health, coping with low incomes, dealing with addictions to alcohol and drugs, and the importance of supportive housing and other community services. The female participants' views on adapting to home, planning for their elderly years, and views on growing older are also explored.

Keywords:

• women
• homeless
• formerly homeless
• qualitative
• aging
• health
• housing

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I thank the women who participated in this study, the health and social service providers in Toronto who helped with recruitment, and Dr. Mark Rosenberg (Queen's University) and undergraduate research assistants, Gillian Sloggett and Rebecca Holman. This research was supported by the Population Health Improvement Research Network (PHIRN) Ontario Doctoral Student in Population Health Award.

Notes

1. Supportive housing is defined as subsidized housing with social services onsite (Hwang et al. 2011, p. 2).