Nursing Homes Have Become Last-Resort Housing
Finding the right care for older adults facing homelessness could be part of a broader rethinking of long-term care, writes Michele Cohen Marill.
Caitlin Synovec, an occupational therapist, observed that some older adults in their 50s or 60s find themselves in nursing homes when they could have received more suitable care. These individuals often lose their housing after a serious medical event, such as a stroke, and struggle to secure stable housing afterward. They may initially reside in homeless shelters, but these facilities frequently fail to accommodate the elderly with mobility issues.
Consequently, some end up in nursing homes despite their low-care needs, which is an expensive housing solution. A surprising number of older adults—ranging from 2.5% to nearly 23%—are housed in nursing homes, depending on the state. Synovec recounts a case where a client in her 50s, who lost her housing after a stroke, ended up in a nursing home after falling at a shelter.
While many elderly people desire to age in their own homes and communities, nursing homes can separate them from their loved ones and friends. Some individuals even choose to return to the streets rather than enter a long-term nursing home, highlighting the need for more accessible and affordable housing options for the aging homeless population.
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