Meaningful Healthcare and Social Service Access for Homeless Populations: Generating Alliances Through Theories of Therapeutic Landscape

ABSTRACT

Poor health can both facilitate and be facilitated by homelessness. The desire for serious illness care to occur at home and increased attention to home-and-community-based health services prompts consideration of how the therapeutic nature of place can shape patient-centered care for those who live outside of traditional housing. Three key concepts from therapeutic landscape are illustrated by findings from an empirical, grounded theory study (RASCAL-UP) of a mobile palliative care provider for the homeless: (1) healing pilgrimages and migrations; (2) place-based therapeutic networks; (3) spaces of care and control. Through application of therapeutic landscape theory, health workers can better comprehend the healthcare decisions and goals of people experiencing homelessness. Applications of therapeutic landscape theory can guide healthcare professionals toward equitable care planning and support programming and policy to enhance care options for homeless populations.

KEYWORDS:

• Homelessness
• home-and-community-based services
• place of care
• therapeutic landscape

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).