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Adults aged 50 and older make up half of individuals experiencing homelessness and have high rates of morbidity and mortality. Researchers administered structured interviews including assessments of health, history of homelessness, social support, and life course. They found that compared to those who were unsheltered, having social support when last stably housed was significantly associated with cohabiting and institution use. Further research on the newly homeless individuals and cohabiters in this cohort may elucidate more clearly the trajectories of these different phenotypes of homelessness.

Tobacco-attributable deaths contribute significantly to the increased mortality observed among homeless adults aged 50 years or more. In this longitudinal cohort study, researchers examine smoking behaviors and factors associated with smoking cessation among homeless individuals aged 50 years or more. Researchers found tobacco use in older homeless adults and rates of quit attempts were similar to that observed in the general population, but successful quitting was lower.