Growing Number of Seniors Experiencing Homelessness Leads Shelters to Adjust

Shelters across the country are witnessing an increasing number of older adults needing their services. To accommodate this change, some facilities are undergoing adaptations to better meet the needs of this demographic.

Adapting Shelters to the Needs of Elderly Homeless Individuals

Nestled in Sandy, Utah, the Medically Vulnerable People (MVP) shelter has breathed new life into an old brick hotel. This two-story haven now serves individuals aged 62 and older, and also provides refuge for those with serious health conditions.

Unlike traditional shelters with shared sleeping quarters, the MVP shelter offers semiprivate rooms equipped for wheelchairs and other mobility aids. Each unit includes a private bathroom, preserving the dignity and privacy necessary for older adults, particularly for those facing incontinence.

Ordinary shelters often lack the resources for older adults, particularly those over 65, a group rapidly becoming the most significant segment within the homeless population. Many face homelessness for the first time, complicating the challenge of chronic homelessness.

Unique Services Offered by the MVP Shelter

When Jamie Mangum, who resides in the MVP shelter, suffered a fall, she found aid just a short distance away. Diagnosed with lung cancer, in her 50s, Mangum merely had to head down to the clinic where an emergency medical technician wrapped her swollen wrist promptly and efficiently.

Such onsite medical assistance stands in stark contrast to other shelters where Mangum would have needed to navigate external urgent care on her own, a notable benefit of staying at the MVP shelter.

The shelter doesn't just address immediate medical emergencies; it offers case management that addresses complex healthcare needs. Memory care support is available for those who have been displaced due to conditions like dementia.

Support Network and Health Services

Collaboration with local health services ensures weekly visits from primary care physicians and therapists. Physical therapy sessions can be conducted in private settings, contributing to a comprehensive support system for the residents.

Medication management remains a primary concern for newcomers. Homeless individuals often misplace or lose medications, which are sometimes stolen or spoiled due to improper storage.

Ensuring access to and management of medications stabilizes health issues and allows residents to focus on securing identification and access to support programs like Social Security, ultimately aiding their transition to permanent housing.

The Critical Role of Specialized Shelters

Across the nation, states like Florida, California, and Arizona are seeing similar shelters emerge to serve elderly homeless individuals. The availability of such facilities can mean the difference between survival and tragedy.

In harsh climates, refusing shelter beds due to mobility issues or other health problems presents severe risks, illustrated by a tragic incident in Bozeman, Montana, when an older adult was forced to leave a shelter and succumbed to exposure.

Common shelter restrictions, such as prohibiting oxygen tanks due to fire hazards, illustrate the challenges shelters face managing complex medical needs without specialized facilities.

Emergence of Senior-Focused Shelters

The MVP approach is proving effective, as evidenced by outcomes both in Utah and elsewhere. For instance, over 80% of participants in a Florida program transitioned to more stable housing in the past year.

The MVP shelter itself achieved significant success in permanently housing 36 older adults within its first eleven months, though demand far exceeds capacity with over 200 waiting, prioritized by medical necessity.

Reclaiming Lives and Finding Stability

For the fortunate residents who gain entry, the refuge provides a transformative chance. Jeff Gregg, a shelter resident, has adapted to life at the facility while overcoming a history of opioid dependency linked to a chronic back injury.

The shelter gave Gregg a rare chance to become clean, focus on health recovery, and pursue back surgery, with hopes of gaining employment and re-entering the housing market independently.