HOPE HOME

Health Outcomes of People Experiencing Homelessness in Older Middle Age (HOPE HOME)

Since 2013, Dr. Margot Kushel has led the Health Outcomes of People Experiencing Homelessness in Older Middle Age (HOPE HOME) project, an NIA-funded longitudinal study involving hundreds of older adults (age 50 and older) experiencing homelessness.

Based in Oakland, the study includes semi-annual visits for structured interviews, cognitive and physical assessments, as well as qualitative interviews, and ethnographic observations. With more than 30 peer reviewed publications thus far, the study has produced numerous findings relevant to exploring the causes and consequences of homelessness among older adults.

For the next five years, the study will examine the relationship between medical mistrust, healthcare utilization and health in a cohort of 350 homeless (and recently homeless) older adults. A community advisory board informs the study.

By drawing attention to the plight of homelessness in older adults, HOPE HOME has received attention in multiple media outlets (including CBS and an in-depth feature in The New York Times), has informed clinical care, and inspired legislation and programs, such as HOME SAFE and Project RoomKey.

The National Institute on Aging at the National Institutes of Health funds this study through grants awarded to Dr. Kushel.