A two-year study that followed 25 homeless or barely-housed people with life-threatening medical conditions in Victoria has found that many are only given appropriate health care once inching closer to death.
Researchers out of the University of Victoria spent more than 300 hours with the 25 people, following them to medical appointments and with social care workers, according to .
The study also involved almost 150 interviews with those suffering, as well as with their close friends and family. Thirteen people died during the two-year study.
According to their report, researchers found that those living on the streets suffering from cancer, heart failure and lung disease are open to more vulnerabilities than those who are able to access palliative care B次元官网网址� the end-of-life health services which include pain management, increased supports and help for caregivers.
READ MORE:
Kelli Stajduhar, lead investigator with UVicB次元官网网址檚 Institute on Aging and Lifelong Health, said in a news release that palliative care not only prevents and eases suffering, but alleviates the harms of homelessness through whole-person care addressing the basic needs lacking for street-entrenched people.
| Kelli Stajduhar, lead researcher of 'Too Little, Too Late' (Submitted) |
While the study found that people experience the same injustices while dying as they commonly face in their daily lives B次元官网网址� including stigmatization, criminalization, racialization and exclusion B次元官网网址� once they can access palliative care their access to food, shelter and social support increases.
B次元官网网址淏eing labelled B次元官网网址榩alliativeB次元官网网址� opened people up to a basket of services and resources previously unavailable to them,B次元官网网址� Stajduhar said.
READ MORE:
Ten participants ended their lives in a palliative care unit, the report reads, where they reported they received the best care of their lives.
Grey Showler, director of health and support services with Victoria Cool Aid Society, said people dealing with homelessness and life-threatening conditions typically donB次元官网网址檛 get diagnosed until late in their illness, both due to B次元官网网址渟urvival prioritiesB次元官网网址� and poor treatment within the health care system.
People experiencing homelessness face many barriers to accessing care, he said, including policies that can prevent health care workers from entering sites where people are living and a lack of support for friends who are caring for them.
Researchers have made a number of recommendations that they believe will help bridge the gap between end-of-life care and some of CanadaB次元官网网址檚 most vulnerable, including adapting policies to address barriers some face in formal health care settings, develop mobile palliative care services, and support non-traditional families in the decision-making process of someoneB次元官网网址檚 health plan.
ashley.wadhwani@bpdigital.ca
Like us on and follow us on .
