Elderly Homelessness in LA County - Research Paper

Introduction

Homelessness in a country is caused by high poverty levels in the economy. Individuals who find it difficult to earn a living will not be in a position to pay for their basic needs this including food, housing, healthcare, childcare and education (Byrne, 2015). For the homeless older adults, the causes could be different from what others have presented. First, older adults could have been veterans or became homeless due to chronic diseases. Homeless veterans are defined as people who previously worked in the army but are homeless because they cannot secure an appropriate place for accommodation.

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The veterans become homeless because of substance abuse, disabilities, joblessness as well as government policy. An individual suffering from chronic diseases will affect his or her family where, in this case, they will fail to pay for their housing because they are unemployed or are paid very poor wages which then lead to poverty. On the other hand, young and single adults are rendered homeless because they lack affordable housing, abuse drugs, unemployment, and poverty. Hence, the medical care required for such people could be difficult to meet. There has been lack of affordable and inaccessibility to proper housing among the elders living in the Los Angeles county area. This has therefore increased the demand for senior housing in the county.

Background

Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority was established back in 1933 to manage the levels of homelessness in the county. This was as a result of increased elderly individuals were found homeless and in the streets. However, even with the coordinated activities to reduce homelessness the number of homeless individuals between the year 2010 and 2017 went up to 55,000 from 38,700 indicating an increase of 42% (Byrne, 2015). This has been the situation for the last 150 years, which indicates that affordability and accessibility of senior housing in the county is an area issue that should be handled in all possible and effective methods. Of this population, 3,000 to 4,000 of them are the senior men and women, which shows a significant part of this group (Wise & Cackley, 2016).

Discussion

According to Wise & Cackley, (2016), elders in the country will suffer from homelessness due to chronic diseases and other who acutely become homeless. The group faces many risk factors while they stay out and this affects the social, physical and psychological aspects of their life. Furthermore, the two groups are treated to be the same because the only difference between them is the fact that veterans have a longer homeless history compared to the chronic group. The author confirms the need for the assessment of the risk factors that lead to homelessness and how identified interventions should be implemented based on different views given by the veterans.

Los Angeles County is considered to have a huge homeless population based on the fact that it is considered as the least affordable housing in the country. Individuals living in Los Angeles pay up to 47% of their income to cater for the housing needs which in this is way unaffordable for low-income earners or even the middle-class income earners. This is unaffordable for an individual who is paying for their medical care which leads to the elderly being homeless. Luckily, support service has seen to it that affordable housing has been provided to the homeless so that it becomes a start of eradicating homelessness in the county.

Advantages

The recognition of the higher priced housing market in the county, better and affordable housing solutions through the Affordable Living for the AGing are available for the older adult. Using the permanent supportive initiative it has become possible to improve the health conditions because of the reduced cost of health care among those who are chronically ill. Furthermore, the success of these support services has received support from other federal agencies which have since decreased the number of homeless older adults in the county.

Disadvantages

The county is said to be one of the most expensive housing, therefore, limiting the chances of the older adults having a roof to live under. However, the support services do not serve all the older adults meaning that they will remain homeless for the long times possible. Furthermore, from this position, these people cannot meet their medical needs hence more suffering.

Nursing Resolution

As health care provider's nurses can become advocates for the elderly and lack of accessible, affordable housing by providing permanent supportive programs for a house. The resources are expected to address the effects of chronic homelessness by making sure that individuals who are homeless retain stable housing. These supportive services include personal care, substance abuse counselling services, psychiatric and medical services.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Los Angeles County has a major concern with providing housing for the elderly population. As mentioned, this problem will continue to grow because of the increasingly aging population in the county. As described, homelessness in Los Angeles County, has been on the rise for the past 150 years and it is most critical for the older adults. According to research conducted, it clear that older adults become victims of homelessness because they are veterans or because they suffered from chronic disease. Fortunately, support services have been rendered to this group as a nursing resolution so that housing and medical service become affordable.

References

Byrne, T. (2015). Older adults facing worst case housing needs and homelessness: Recent Trends and Policy Implications. http://www.bu.edu/ssw/files/2015/06/BYRNE_WHCOA_BRIEF_20150415.pdf

Wise, D. J., & Cackley, A. P. (2016). Homeless Veterans: Management Improvements Could Help VA Better Identify Supportive Housing Projects (No. GAO-17-101). US Government Accountability Office Washington United States. https://apps.dtic.mil/docs/citations/AD1024159\