Health & Healthcare: All Related Resources

Cancer is a leading cause of death among older people experiencing homelessness. In this retrospective cohort study, researchers sought to characterize the diagnosis, treatment, surgical outcomes, and mortality by housing status of patients who receive care from the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health system for colorectal, breast, or lung cancer. Researchers found that homelessness was associated with later stages at diagnosis for colorectal cancer.

In this commentary of the study "Housing Status, Cancer Care, and Associated Outcomes Among US Veterans", Maria C. Raven, MD, MPH, associate Professor and Chief of Emergency Medicine at UCSF, provides lessons from the Veterans Health Administration. In 2009, the VHA began a multipronged initiative designed to end and prevent homelessness among veterans, which led to a 45% reduction in veteran homelessness from 2009 to 2017. Dr. Raven writes, "The results of this study indicate that in addition to providing housing at comparatively high rates for unhoused veterans, the system’s initiative to prevent and end veteran homelessness has also likely helped reduce important disparities in oncologic care for this population."

Cancer is the leading cause of mortality for people experiencing homelessness (PEH). However, not much is known about cancer-related surgical outcomes among PEH. This retrospective cohort study aimed to characterize access to care among PEH, evaluate postoperative outcomes, and assess costs associated with surgery for malignancy among PEH. Researchers found that PEH were less likely to undergo surgery for malignancy at cancer centers than hose who are housed. People experiencing homelessness also had a higher risk of requiring unplanned surgery.

Older adults experiencing chronic homelessness have low rates of advance care planning despite high rates of morbidity and mortality. Researchers explored if rehousing people who experience homelessness into permanent supportive housing (PSH) would present an opportunity to introduce advance care planning (ACP). Researchers identified behavioral determinants related to ACP for formerly chronically homeless adults in PSH.