Assessing Older Adults Who Have Experienced Homelessness: Findings from an Exploratory Study

We report results of a workforce initiative to increase functional screenings for older adults with lived experiences of homelessness. Thirty-four healthcare practitioners screened 253 patients ages 50 years + using a battery of screening tools aligned with the 4 Ms. Using secondary analyses, we describe practitioners’ participation in the workforce initiative, patients’ functional scores, and a qualitative analysis of “what matters” to patients. Many practitioners did not complete all screenings. Among patient respondents, 6% reported moderate to severe ADL impairment; 24% scored positive cognitive impairment; 32% reported being unable to walk 250 feet; 46% reported moderate to severe pain. Resilience strategies developed during homelessness “matter.” Few participants reported impaired ADL performance, which may reflect levels of independence needed to survive homelessness or to maintain services while homelessness. Findings suggest a need for additional workforce training to increase functional screenings for older adults in this population.