This research undertakes a meticulous analysis of the complex interplay between age and homelessness in Canada. Starting with a comprehensive literature review, it uncovers the often-overlooked challenges faced by the aging population, emphasizing the disparity in attention compared to younger demographics. The study explores the psychological, societal, and economic factors contributing to homelessness among the elderly, shedding light on their struggles and the structural issues perpetuating this issue.
The subsequent research paper delves into the broader context, addressing homelessness as a chronic problem within the Canadian landscape. It discusses the changing trends, with a notable increase in poverty, health disparities, and indoor living issues. The study’s primary aim is to establish an etiological relationship between age and homelessness, documenting trends, health status, drug usage, and housing among the homeless population. By examining various influencing factors through an extensive literature review, the research seeks to contribute to a deeper understanding of age-related homelessness.
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Age and Homelessness in Canada– a critical literature analysis
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Table of Contents Background ................................................................................................................................ 4
Aim and objectives ................................................................................................................ 4
Research questions ................................................................................................................. 4
Scope of the study .................................................................................................................. 4
Methodology .............................................................................................................................. 5
Presentation of literature and Discussion ................................................................................... 5
Conclusion ................................................................................................................................. 6
References ................................................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined.
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A. Literature Review
This section deals with short literature review on relatedness of aging and homelessness.
(Beynon et al, 2009) have addressed that current practices and knowledge demonstrates
homelessness focuses on youth, adults and provides less attention on older people. Reports
from (Gonyea et al., 2010) states that homeless aging population are regarded as invisible
population in society whereas due to larger demographic shifts number of elderly people was
predicted to increase (Edmonston and Fong 2010). (Cohen 1999 and Morrison, 2009) reports
that elderly individuals living in street who exhibit mental and physical inabilities. (Trypuc&
Robinson, 2009) addressed that average age of homeless people in Canada is 40 years.
Grenier (2012) defines that aging is process that occurs in life courses in relation to structure
of institution, practices and experiences. Studies reported from (Cohen, 1999; Garibaldi,
Conde-Martel, and O’Toole, 2005; Gonyea et al., 2010; McDonald, Dergal, &Cleghorn,
2007; Ploeg et al. 2008; Shinn et al., 2007) emphasises that homeless older people living in
Toronto considers themselves as old between 50-55 years. (Mott et al., 2012) reports that
homeless people does not live in fixed address and counting methods to estimate the size of
homeless population further complicates the issue to identify exact numbers of elderly
homeless population. Gaetz, Donaldon, Richter, & Gulliver (2013) reports thathighest
number of age old homeless population in Toronto those other cities in Canada such as
Alberta. Gaetz et al (2013) reports that 5,086 homeless people reside in Toronto, 1,602 reside
in Vancouver, 3190 in Calgary in 2012. (Stergiopoulos& Herrmann, 2003) reported that
adults above age 55 depict 45-55% of total homeless population in Canada. Due to the lack of
shelter facilities for elderly population signifies that elderly adults were overcrowded in
hospitals reports (Serge &Gnaedinger, 2003).
Psychological disorders, traumatic events in childhood and adolescence trigger events for
homelessness among elderly population. (Padgett, Smith, Henwood, &Tiderington, 2012)
reports that death of patient and family breakdown are chief reasons associated with
homelessness in earlier parts of life among individuals. Research studies conducted by (Shinn
et al., 2007; Gonyea et al., 2010) address that various kinds of structural factors account for
later life homelessness among Canadian population. (Rothwell &Haveman, 2013) states that
28% of adults above 66 age group lacks sufficient level of financial assets to survive with low
income threshold for three months. Precarious environment, diminishing financial assets,
poor mental health, reduced social connections and reduced physical health are related with
age old homelessness. (Barak and Cohen, 2003) poor psychiatric conditions and alcoholism
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also accounts as reason for homelessness. Also studies from (Rank & Williams, 2010) states
that education, prior work performance, incarceration are associated with lack of shelter
among age old population. Studies from (Toro, 2007) reports that poverty and victimisation
are closely associated with age related homelessness. Individuals who experience above
vulnerabilities lack skill to cope up with the situation which triggers homelessness among this
population.
B. Research Paper
Title: Age and Homelessness in Canada
Background
Homelessness is reported as chronic problem among Canadian population. The rates of
homelessness among population continue to change over the period of time with significant
rise in poverty, less healthy and living indoors. North et al (2004) reported that trends of
homelessness in ten years have been observed with respective increase in age, variations in
ethnic population, substance use disorders.
Aim and objectives
The main aim of this paper is to address etiological relationship between age and
homelessness. This study documents about the trends in age, housing, health status, drug
usage among homeless population. The objectives of this study are to examine various factors
influencing age related homelessness by conducting extensive literature review.
Research questions
The research questions generated for this study which includes:
1. What are the reasons for aging related homelessness?
2. What are the chief factors affecting homelessness?
Scope of the study
This study addresses chief factors behind age related homelessness. Canada has high number
of age old population lacking shelters. Health status of individuals, gender, geographical
status experiences of homelessness plays vital role in aging related homelessness. This study
demonstrates the previous findings on factors influencing aging related homelessness among
Canadian population since it was reported with exploding rates of homelessness among
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elderly population. This study sheds light on current knowledge and practice in literature
archives on theme of research to devise strategies to reduce escalating rates.
Methodology
The chief purpose of this literature based study is to compile existing literature findings in
ageing and homelessness. Literature was gathered with a view of incidence of homelessness,
pathway to lack of shelter among age old individuals. Literature search was performed in
Google Scholar, Webline, MedLine, and PubMed from the period of 2000-2015. Search
terms used for searching literature are aging related homelessness, support, Shelter and
Canada, elderly adult and senior individuals.
Presentation of literature and Discussion
This section presents the earlier findings related to aging and homelessness among Canadian
population. . Reports from (Gonyea et al., 2010) states that homeless aging population are
regarded as invisible population in society whereas due to larger demographic shifts number
of elderly people was predicted to increase (Edmonston and Fong 2010). (Cohenson 1999 and
Morrison, 2009) reports that elderly individuals living in street who exhibit mental and
physical inabilities. (Trypuc& Robinson, 2009) addressed that average age of homeless
people in Canada is 40 years. Grenier (2012) defines that aging is process that occurs in life
courses in relation to structure of institution, practices and experiences. Studies reported from
(Cohen, 1999; Garibaldi, Conde-Martel, and O’Toole, 2005; Gonyea et al., 2010; McDonald,
Dergal, &Cleghorn, 2007; Ploeg et al. 2008; Shinn et al., 2007) emphasises that homeless
older people living in Toronto considers themselves as old between 50-55 years. (Mott et al.,
2012) reports that homeless people does not live in fixed address and counting methods to
estimate the size of homeless population further complicates the issue to identify exact
numbers of elderly homeless population. Gaetz, Donaldon, Richter, & Gulliver (2013) reports
that highest number of age old homeless population in Toronto those other cities in Canada
such as Alberta. Gaetz et al (2013) reports that 5,086 homeless people reside in Toronto,
1,602 reside in Vancouver, 3190 in Calgary in 2012. (Stergiopoulos& Herrmann, 2003)
reported that adults above age 55 depict 45-55% of total homeless population in Canada. Due
to the lack of shelter facilities for elderly population signifies that elderly adults were
overcrowded in hospitals reports (Serge &Gnaedinger, 2003).
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A study from Parsell (2008) reports that uncritical situation of homelessness identity of
elderly population. In a survey study conducted by Canadian homelessness research network
(2012) reported that homelessness is defined as “the situation of an individual or family
without stable, permanent, appropriate housing, or the immediate prospect, means and ability
of acquiring it”. (Gaetz, Donaldson, Richter, & Gulliver, 2013) have addressed that federal,
provincial, territorial, municipal and aboriginal strategies to reduce homelessness in Canada.
(Morris, Judd, & Kavanagh, 2005; Shinn et al., 2007) stated that Conditions associated with a
gradual decline include precarious employment and/or diminishing finances leading to
poverty, poor mental and/or physical health, decreasing social connections. There is no single
pathway for homelessness. Research conducted with older homeless individuals in the United
States, England, and Australia found that two thirds had not experienced homelessness earlier
in life, while the other third had been homeless before (Crane et al., 2005). Similarly a New
York City study of 79 homeless adults over 55 finds that half of the participants lead what
they considered ‘conventional lives’ prior to becoming homeless. The other half was more
likely to have experienced homelessness throughout their lives (Shinn et al., 2007). In
addition to representing a new population, the duration of time an individual spends homeless
is typically longer for older adults than younger people because they are less likely to
reintegrate into the workforce (Caton et al., 2005).
In a study conducted by McDonald et al (2004) states that women experience high rate of
financial disadvantages and so many age old women population are left unsheltered and lives
in streets among various important cities in Canada. (Denton & Boss, 2007) suggested that
dispropionate involvement of unpaid care work reduces women’s labour forces in the market.
Kosor and Kendal-Wilson (2002) states that spouse abuse, family violence, abuse of drugs
and disputes with family and friends are major pathways to homelessness among older
women in one American city.
Conclusion
This study has observed chief reasons of age related homelessness by conducting extensive
literature review. This study employed qualitative research methods as research design.
Qualitative methods are inexpensive method and reliable for studies analysing human
behaviour. In line with this context, this study has employed secondary research methods
using critical review of literature on ageing related homelessness among Canadian
population.