Supporting Older People Experiencing Homelessness and Memory Problems in Hostels: Learning From an Ethnographic Study

Older people with memory problems living in temporary hostel accommodation have longer stays and higher care needs than those without memory problems. In this ethnographic study, we aimed to elucidate how staff currently support older hostel residents with memory problems, what contextual factors determine support given, and what facilitates positive and meaningful outcomes for staff and residents.

We conducted interviews and participant observations with older people (≥50 years) experiencing memory problems and homelessness (interviews n = 17, observations n = 13), hostel staff and managers (interviews n = 15, observations n = 20) from 7 residential facilities (6 hostels and 1 care home), and health and social care practitioners (interviews n = 17, observations n = 7), from September 2021 to December 2022 in London, England. We analyzed thematically from a critical realist position.

We identified 4 overarching themes: (1) compensatory strategies and routines, (2) hostels are not homes, (3) meeting challenging interactions with compassion, and (4) facilitating opportunities for meaningful interactions. Social interactions for people with memory problems were restricted and, although sheltered by living in hostels, this did not equate to safety or provide opportunities for positive interactions.

Staff worked hard to connect with older residents with memory problems, in resource- and time-poor contexts, often left to provide care beyond their roles in contexts of unmet need. Our ethnographic account has informed co-design of a support intervention for hostel staff working with older people with memory problems, alongside recommendations for policy and practice.