Homelessness Among Elderly Persons

We picture the elderly as independent and self sufficient, but that is not always the case. Most of the elderly living in America today are dependent on pension and social security checks.  Neither of these are able to provide a very comfortable lifestyle, never mind a luxurious one.  Although most of the elderly have some source of income and a roof over their head, nearly 4 million do not.

It is not surprising that the number of elderly adults who have become homeless has increased around the county. An example of this increase has occurred in Massachusetts, where from 1999 to 2002, the number of people over 55 using shelters increased by 60%.

Increased homelessness among elderly people is largely the result of poverty and the declining availability of affordable housing among certain segments of the aging. Throughout the nation, there are at least 9 seniors waiting for every occupied unit of affordable elderly housing. Among households with very low incomes, households headed by an elderly person have almost a one-in-three chance of having worst case needs, despite the fact that housing assistance has been heavily directed toward elderly people.

Studies show that elderly homeless persons are more prone to victimization and more likely to be ignored by law enforcement. In 2006, 27% of the homeless victims of violent crimes were between 50-59 years of age. Individuals 62 and older constituted only 2% of the country’s sheltered homeless population from February to April 2005, compared with 15% of the housed population. In addition to the worsening of physical health caused by homelessness, the homeless elderly are also more likely to suffer from depression or dementia.

References:

http://www.nationalhomeless.org/factsheets/Elderly.pdf

http://library.thinkquest.org/10374/html/the_elderly.html

http://homeless.samhsa.gov/Channel/View.aspx?id=534&AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1

http://www.hearth-home.org/

To Win, We Have to Lose

A new campaign on television brought the issue of obesity to my attention. Obesity has become an epidemic in the United States. Around 15 million adults over the age of 52 suffer from this condition, representing nearly one in four older adults. While obesity itself is not a chronic condition, it leads to other trivial risk factors including coronary heart disease, type II diabetes, stroke and several forms of cancer. Obesity not only affects the health of older adults, it also affects their daily lives. Older people who are obese report more feelings of sadness and hopelessness than those who are not obese.

Another shocking statistic is the fact that obesity is on the rise with the increase in accessible technology and lack of exercise. Since 1991, rates of obesity have increased dramatically. Substantial increases among adults of all ages suggest that obesity among older Americans is likely to become a greater problem in the future. Among the obese population age 51 and older, a disproportionate percentage is aged between 51 to 69.

While obesity rates have increased for everyone, some groups have much higher rates, Rates are also higher for older adults with lower incomes and those with less education. Non-Hispanic whites age 51 and older have the lowest rates of obesity compared to adults of the same age of other racial and ethnic backgrounds. Older men and women have similar rates of obesity.

References:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2002335131_obesity14.html

http://hpi.georgetown.edu/agingsociety/pubhtml/obesity2/obesity2.html

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn7514-obesity-may-accelerate-the-ageing-process.html

http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/mar/23/urban-studies-students-tackle-obesity-aging-milita/