Homeless aging veterans in transition: a life-span perspective

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Veterans Affairs
• Sociology

Background:

• Homelessness disproportionately affects veterans, especially those in poverty or from minority groups.
• Over 25 years of focus on counseling and career/educational services for homeless veterans.
• Veterans are three times more likely to experience homelessness than the general population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore factors influencing normative aging and life quality in homeless veterans using a life-span perspective.
• To investigate the needs and preferences of homeless veterans regarding support services.
• To gather insights from service providers and stakeholders on veteran support.

Main Methods:

• Mixed-methods study involving 39 homeless veterans in Alabama and Florida.
• Quantitative surveys administered to veterans, service providers, and stakeholders.
• Qualitative interviews conducted with a subset of homeless veterans (N=12).

Main Results:

• Data triangulation provided interpretive information from a life-span development perspective.
• Findings highlight the need for proactive strategies addressing health and economic challenges.
• Evidence suggests critical factors influencing veterans' passage throughout their lifespan.

Conclusions:

• Human development is a continuous process throughout life, influenced by individual characteristics.
• Research should focus on preventing homelessness by addressing pre-homelessness health and economic issues.
• Implications for aging and homelessness research include late-life transitioning and human development interventions.