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ImportanceThe population of homeless older adults is growing and experiences premature mortality. Little is known about factors associated with mortality among homeless older adults.ObjectiveTo identify the prevalence and factors associated with mortality in a cohort of homeless adults 50 years and older.Design, setting, and participantsIn this prospective cohort study (Health Outcomes in People Experiencing Homelessness in Older Middle Age [HOPE HOME]), 450 adults 50 years and older who were homeless at baseline were recruited via venue-based sampling in Oakland, California. Enrollment occurred in 2 phases, from July 2013 to June 2014 and from August 2017 to July 2018, and participants were interviewed at 6-month intervals.ExposuresBaseline and time-varying characteristics, including sociodemographic factors, social support, housing status, incarceration history, chronic medical conditions, substance use, and mental health problems.Main outcomes and measuresMortality through December 31, 2021, based on state and local vital records information from contacts and death certificates. All-cause mortality rates were compared with those in the general population from 2014 to 2019 using age-specific standardized mortality ratios with 95% CIs.ResultsOf the 450 included participants, median (IQR) age at baseline was 58.1 (54.5-61.6) years, 107 (24%) were women, and 360 (80%) were Black. Over a median (IQR) follow-up of 55 (38-93) months, 117 (26%) participants died. Median (IQR) age at death was 64.6 (60.3-67.5) years. In multivariable analyses, characteristics associated with mortality included a first episode of homelessness at 50 years and older (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 1.62; 95% CI, 1.13-2.32), homelessness (aHR, 1.82; 95% CI, 1.23-2.68) or institutionalization (aHR, 6.36; 95% CI, 3.42-11.82) at any follow-up compared with being housed, fair or poor self-rated health (aHR, 1.64; 95% CI, 1.13-2.40), and diabetes (aHR, 1.55; 95% CI, 1.06-2.26). Demographic characteristics, substance use problems, and mental health problems were not independently associated. All-cause standardized mortality was 3.5 times higher (95% CI, 2.5-4.4) compared with adults in Oakland. The most common causes of death were heart disease (n = 17 [14.5%]), cancer (n = 17 [14.5%]), and drug overdose (n = 14 [12.0%]).Conclusions and relevanceThe cohort study found that premature mortality was common among homeless older adults and associated factors included late-life homelessness and ongoing homelessness. There is an urgent need for policy approaches to prevent and end homelessness among older adults in the US.

ImportanceDifficulty performing daily activities such as bathing and dressing ("functional impairment") affects nearly 15% of middle-aged adults. Older adults who develop such difficulties, often because of frailty and other age-related conditions, are at increased risk of acute care use, nursing home admission, and death. However, it is unknown if functional impairments that develop among middle-aged people, which may have different antecedents, have similar prognostic significance.ObjectiveTo determine whether middle-aged individuals who develop functional impairment are at increased risk for hospitalization, nursing home admission, and death.Design, setting, and participantsThis matched cohort study analyzed longitudinal data from the Health and Retirement Study, a nationally representative prospective cohort study of US adults. The study population included 5540 adults aged 50 to 56 years who did not have functional impairment at study entry in 1992, 1998, or 2004. Participants were followed biennially through 2014. Individuals who developed functional impairment between 50 and 64 years were matched by age, sex, and survey wave with individuals without impairment as of that age and survey wave. Statistical analysis was conducted from March 15, 2017, to December 11, 2018.ExposuresImpairment in activities of daily living (ADLs), defined as self-reported difficulty performing 1 or more ADLs, and impairment in instrumental ADLs (IADLs), defined similarly.Main outcomes and measuresThe 3 primary outcomes were time from the first episode of functional impairment (or matched survey wave, in controls) to hospitalization, nursing home admission, and death. Follow-up assessments occurred every 2 years until 2014. Competing risks survival analysis was used to assess the association of functional impairment with hospitalization and nursing home admission and Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was used to assess the association with death.ResultsOf the 5540 study participants (2739 women and 2801 men; median age, 53.7 years [interquartile range, 52.3-55.2 years]), 1097 (19.8%) developed ADL impairment between 50 and 64 years, and 857 (15.5%) developed IADL impairment. Individuals with ADL impairment had an increased risk of each adverse outcome compared with those without impairment, including hospitalization (subhazard ratio, 1.97; 95% CI, 1.77-2.19), nursing home admission (subhazard ratio, 2.62; 95% CI, 1.99-3.45), and death (hazard ratio, 2.06; 95% CI, 1.74-2.45). After multivariable adjustment, the risks of hospitalization (subhazard ratio, 1.54; 95% CI, 1.36-1.75) and nursing home admission (subhazard ratio, 1.73; 95% CI, 1.24-2.43) remained significantly higher among individuals with ADL impairment, but the risk of death was not statistically significant (hazard ratio, 1.06; 95% CI, 0.85-1.32). Individuals with IADL impairment had an increased risk of all 3 outcomes in adjusted and unadjusted analyses.Conclusions and relevanceSimilar to older adults, middle-aged adults who develop functional impairment appear to be at increased risk for adverse outcomes. Even among relatively young people, functional impairment has important clinical implications.

ObjectivesAlthough there is increasing interest in using functional status to guide clinical decision making, function is seldom routinely assessed in primary care. We explored clinician perspectives on barriers and facilitators to routine measurement of older adults' functional status in primary care settings.DesignQualitative study using semistructured interviews.SettingPrimary care and geriatrics clinics at six Veterans Affairs Medical Centers.ParticipantsTwenty-four primary care providers, including 17 from primary care clinics and 7 from geriatrics clinics.MeasurementsWe conducted interviews to elicit clinician perspectives about functional status measurement, including barriers and facilitators to routine assessment. We analyzed transcripts iteratively using a hybrid inductive and deductive thematic approach.ResultsInterviews revealed three distinct aspects to measuring function: screening and assessment, documentation, and use of data to inform care. Barriers and facilitators to screening and assessment included time availability, clinic processes, and degree of interdisciplinary environment. Barriers and facilitators to documentation included the usability and integration of electronic instruments into workflows and the availability of a standardized location to document function in the electronic medical record. Barriers and facilitators to use of data included the availability of a standardized location to retrieve data on function, the availability of appropriate referrals and services, and provider knowledge of available resources to address functional impairments. To address these barriers, providers emphasized the critical importance of connecting measurement of function directly to improved patient care.ConclusionAlthough clinicians emphasized the importance of measuring function, they also cautioned against additional workload burdens, cumbersome electronic documentation, and measurement of function without ensuring that these data are used to improve care. Approaches to functional status measurement must address these barriers to improve care and outcomes for older adults. J Am Geriatr Soc 67:493-502, 2019.

Difficulty performing activities of daily living ("functional impairment") is common in homeless adults aged 50 and older. However, little is known about the trajectory of these impairments, nor the extent to which these trajectories are similar to those of older adults in the general population. We identified trajectories of functional impairment in homeless adults aged 50 and older, and risk factors for differing trajectories. We conducted a prospective cohort study of 350 homeless adults, aged 50 and older, recruited via population-based sampling in Oakland, California and interviewed at 6-month intervals for up to 3 years. We assessed functional trajectories based on self-reported difficulty performing 5 activities of daily living. We used multivariable multinomial logistic regression to identify baseline risk factors for each trajectory. At baseline, participants' mean age was 58 years (SD, 5.3), 24.1% were women, 80.9% were African American, and 38.6% had difficulty performing 1 or more activities of daily living. We identified 4 distinct functional trajectories: minimal impairment in 136 participants (41.1%); persistent impairment in 81 (25.4%); partial improvement in 74 (23.5%); and decline in 28 (10.0%). Risk factors for persistent impairment included falls in the 6 months before baseline, depressive symptoms, and low physical performance. Although functional impairment improved in some homeless adults, it persisted or worsened in many others. These findings suggest that, similar to older adults in the general population, functional impairment among older homeless persons is not a transient phenomenon, but instead a chronic issue requiring long-term solutions.

BackgroundDifficulties with daily functioning are common in middle-aged adults. However, little is known about the epidemiology or clinical course of these problems, including the extent to which they share common features with functional impairment in older adults.ObjectiveTo determine the epidemiology and clinical course of functional impairment and decline in middle age.DesignCohort study.SettingThe Health and Retirement Study.Participants6874 community-dwelling adults aged 50 to 56 years who did not have functional impairment at enrollment.MeasurementsImpairment in activities of daily living (ADLs), defined as self-reported difficulty performing 1 or more ADLs, assessed every 2 years for a maximum follow-up of 20 years, and impairment in instrumental ADLs (IADLs), defined similarly. Data were analyzed by using multistate models that estimate probabilities of different outcomes.ResultsImpairment in ADLs developed in 22% of participants aged 50 to 64 years, in whom further functional transitions were common. Two years after the initial impairment, 4% (95% CI, 3% to 5%) of participants had died, 9% (CI, 8% to 11%) had further ADL decline, 50% (CI, 48% to 52%) had persistent impairment, and 37% (CI, 35% to 39%) had recovered independence. In the 10 years after the initial impairment, 16% (CI, 14% to 18%) had 1 or more episodes of functional decline and 28% (CI, 26% to 30%) recovered from their initial impairment and remained independent throughout this period. The pattern of findings was similar for IADLs.LimitationFunctional status was self-reported.ConclusionFunctional impairment and decline are common in middle age, as are transitions from impairment to independence and back again. Because functional decline in older adults has similar features, current interventions used for prevention in older adults may hold promise for those in middle age.Primary funding sourceNational Institute on Aging and National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences through the University of California, San Francisco, Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute.

Purpose of the studyOlder homeless adults living in shelters have high rates of geriatric conditions, which may increase their risk for acute care use and nursing home placement. However, a minority of homeless adults stay in shelters and the prevalence of geriatric conditions among homeless adults living in other environments is unknown. We determined the prevalence of common geriatric conditions in a cohort of older homeless adults, and whether the prevalence of these conditions differs across living environments.Design and methodsWe interviewed 350 homeless adults, aged 50 and older, recruited via population-based sampling in Oakland, CA. We evaluated participants for common geriatric conditions. We assessed living environment using a 6-month follow-back residential calendar, and used cluster analysis to identify participants' primary living environment over the prior 6 months.ResultsParticipants stayed in 4 primary environments: unsheltered locations (n = 162), multiple locations including shelters and hotels (n = 88), intermittently with family/friends (n = 57), and, in a recently homeless group, rental housing (n = 43). Overall, 38.9% of participants reported difficulty performing 1 or more activities of daily living, 33.7% reported any falls in the past 6 months, 25.8% had cognitive impairment, 45.1% had vision impairment, and 48.0% screened positive for urinary incontinence. The prevalence of geriatric conditions did not differ significantly across living environments.ImplicationsGeriatric conditions were common among older homeless adults living in diverse environments, and the prevalence of these conditions was higher than that seen in housed adults 20 years older. Services that address geriatric conditions are needed for older homeless adults living across varied environments.

ObjectivesTo develop, implement, and evaluate a training program in aging-related health for police officers.DesignCross-sectional.SettingCrisis intervention training program for police officers in San Francisco.ParticipantsPolice officers attending one of five 2-hour trainings (N = 143).InterventionA lecture on aging-related health conditions pertinent to police work followed by three experiential trainings on how it feels to be "old."MeasurementsParticipants evaluated the quality of the training and the likelihood that they would apply new knowledge to their work and rated their knowledge using a retrospective pre-post evaluation. In open-ended responses, participants reported work-related changes they anticipated making in response to the training.ResultsAll 143 participants completed the evaluation. Eighty-four percent reported interacting with older adults at least monthly; 45% reported daily interactions. Participants rated the training quality at 4.6/5 and the likelihood they would apply new knowledge to their work at 4.4/5. Retrospective pre-post knowledge scores increased for all domains, including how to identify aging-related health conditions that can affect safety during police interactions (2.9/5 to 4.2/5; P < .001). In open-ended responses, participants anticipated having more empathy for and awareness of aging-related conditions and greater ability to provide older adults with appropriate community referrals.ConclusionA brief training in aging-related health significantly increased police officers' self-reported knowledge and skills. Clinicians have an important opportunity to help enhance safe and effective community policing for older adults.

BackgroundThe ability to perform basic daily activities ("functional status") is key to older adults' quality of life and strongly predicts health outcomes. However, data on functional status are seldom collected during routine clinical care in a way that makes them available for clinical use and research.ObjectivesTo validate functional status data that Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers recently started collecting during routine clinical care, compared to the same data collected in a structured research setting.DesignProspective validation study.SettingSeven VA medical centers that collected complete data on 5 activities of daily living (ADLs) and 8 instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) from older patients attending primary care appointments.ParticipantsRandomly selected patients aged 75 and older who had new ADL and IADL data collected during a primary care appointment (N = 252). We oversampled patients with ADL dependence and applied these sampling weights to our analyses.MeasurementsTelephone-based interviews using a validated measure to assess the same 5 ADLs and 8 IADLs.ResultsMean age was 83 years, 96% were male, and 75% were white. Of 85 participants whom VA data identified as dependent in 1 or more ADLs, 74 (87%) reported being dependent by interview; of 167 whom VA data identified as independent in ADLs, 149 (89%) reported being independent. The sample-weighted sensitivity of the VA data for identifying ADL dependence was 45% (95% CI, 29%, 62%) compared to the reference standard, the specificity was 99% (95% CI, 99%, >99%), and the positive predictive value was 87% (95% CI, 79%, 93%). The weighted kappa statistic was 0.55 (95% CI, 0.41, 0.68) for the agreement between VA data and research-collected data in identifying ADL dependence.ConclusionOverall agreement of VA functional status data with a reference standard was moderate, with fair sensitivity but high specificity and positive predictive value.

Little is known about pathways to homelessness among older adults. We identified life course experiences associated with earlier versus later onset of homelessness in older homeless adults and examined current health and functional status by age at first homelessness. We interviewed 350 homeless adults, aged 50 and older, recruited via population-based sampling. Participants reported age at first episode of adult homelessness and their life experiences during 3 time periods: childhood (

ObjectivesWe determined the impact of obtaining housing on geriatric conditions and acute care utilization among older homeless adults.MethodsWe conducted a 12-month prospective cohort study of 250 older homeless adults recruited from shelters in Boston, Massachusetts, between January and June 2010. We determined housing status at follow-up, determined number of emergency department visits and hospitalizations over 12 months, and examined 4 measures of geriatric conditions at baseline and 12 months. Using multivariable regression models, we evaluated the association between obtaining housing and our outcomes of interest.ResultsAt 12-month follow-up, 41% of participants had obtained housing. Compared with participants who remained homeless, those with housing had fewer depressive symptoms. Other measures of health status did not differ by housing status. Participants who obtained housing had a lower rate of acute care use, with an adjusted annualized rate of acute care visits of 2.5 per year among participants who obtained housing and 5.3 per year among participants who remained homeless.ConclusionsOlder homeless adults who obtained housing experienced improved depressive symptoms and reduced acute care utilization compared with those who remained homeless.

As the population ages, police increasingly serve as first responders to incidents involving older adults in which aging-related health plays a critical role. The goals of this study were to assess police officers' knowledge of aging-related health, to identify challenges police experience in their encounters with older adults, and to describe their recommendations for how to address those challenges. This was a mixed-methods study of 141 San Francisco police officers recruited from mandatory police trainings between 2011 and 2013. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze 141 self-administered questionnaires, and principles of grounded theory were used to analyze open-ended questionnaire responses and 11 additional qualitative interviews. Eighty-nine percent of officers reported interacting with older adults at least monthly. Although 84% of police reported prior training in working with older adults, only 32% rated themselves as knowledgeable about aging-related health. Participants described themselves as first responders to medical and social emergencies involving older adults and identified several challenges, including identifying and responding to aging-related conditions and ensuring appropriate medical and social service handoffs. To address these challenges, officers recommended developing trainings focused on recognizing and responding to aging-related conditions and improving police knowledge of community resources for older adults. They also called for enhanced communication and collaboration between police and clinicians. These findings suggest that, because they assume a front-line role in responding to older adults with complex medical and social needs, many police may benefit from additional knowledge about aging-related health and community resources. Collaboration between police and healthcare providers presents an important opportunity to develop geriatrics training and interprofessional systems of care to support police work with a rapidly aging population.

ObjectivesTo determine the prevalence of preadmission functional disability in late-middle-aged and older safety-net inpatients and to identify characteristics associated with functional disability by age.DesignCross-sectional analysis.SettingSafety-net hospital in San Francisco, California.ParticipantsEnglish-, Spanish-, and Chinese-speaking community-dwelling individuals aged 55 and older admitted to a safety-net hospital with anticipated return to the community (N = 699).MeasurementsAt hospital admission, participants reported their need for help performing five activities of daily living (ADLs) and seven instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) 2 weeks before admission. ADL disability was defined as needing help performing one or more ADLs and IADL disability as needing help performing two or more IADLs. Participant characteristics were assessed, including sociodemographic characteristics, health status, health-related behaviors, and health-seeking behaviors.ResultsOverall, 28.3% of participants reported that they had an ADL disability 2 weeks before admission, and 40.4% reported an IADL disability. The prevalence of preadmission ADL disability was 28.9% of those aged 55 to 59, 20.7% of those aged 60 to 69, and 41.2% of those aged 70 and older (P < .001). The prevalence of IADL disability had a similar distribution. The characteristics associated with functional disability differed according to age; in participants aged 55 to 59, African Americans had a higher odds of ADL and IADL disability, whereas in participants aged 60 to 69 and aged 70 and older, inadequate health literacy was associated with functional disability.ConclusionPreadmission functional disability is common in individuals aged 55 and older admitted to a safety-net hospital. Late-middle-aged individuals admitted to safety-net hospitals may benefit from models of acute care currently used for older adults that prevent adverse outcomes associated with functional disability.

ObjectivesWe compared the characteristics of emergency department (ED) visits of older versus younger homeless adults.MethodsWe analyzed 2005-2009 data from the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, a nationally representative survey of visits to hospitals and EDs, and used sampling weights, strata, and clustering variables to obtain nationally representative estimates.ResultsThe ED visits of homeless adults aged 50 years and older accounted for 36% of annual visits by homeless patients. Although demographic characteristics of ED visits were similar in older and younger homeless adults, clinical and health services characteristics differed. Older homeless adults had fewer discharge diagnoses related to psychiatric conditions (10% vs 20%; P = .002) and drug abuse (7% vs 15%; P = .003) but more diagnoses related to alcohol abuse (31% vs 23%; P = .03) and were more likely to arrive by ambulance (48% vs 36%; P = .02) and to be admitted to the hospital (20% vs 11%; P = .003). Conclusions. Older homeless adults' patterns of ED care differ from those of younger homeless adults. Health care systems need to account for these differences to meet the needs of the aging homeless population.

ObjectivesTo examine whether demographic characteristics, health care access, and acute health care utilization differ by age among homeless adults.MethodsWe interviewed all 2,175 adult attendees of a citywide homeless outreach event.ResultsOlder participants were more likely than younger participants to have a regular place for health care (59.8% vs. 44.3%, p