Growing Old into Homelessness

 

Homeless Seniors

Everyone grows old (hopefully), but no one should do it alone and without a home to call their own. According to AARP.org nearly 1 in 5 homeless people in the United States of America are fifty-five years old or older. The elderly homeless statistic takes in consideration those who grew old in homelessness and those who crossed the threshold into homelessness in old age, many of whom are suffering from cognitive decline much sooner than their peers who are housed. 

How can we say that we want better for the world if we are seemingly unwilling to ensure the generation that is supposed to be the backbone of the family dynamic is well and taken care of until they leave this world, having resources is all well and fine but what are we doing to deploy and educate about those resources. When do we take the time to tailor programs to the most vulnerable of us and the most over looked.  

Grandparents/ elderly members of our community play a pivotal role in society where families are concerned. Many people are raised in part or completely by Grandparents/ older generation other than their parents. Unfortunately, it seems that when the elderly members of the family (65 and up) don't have use or strong connection to family members, they are left to the mercy of a society that does not see them as a priority and increasingly is seeing them as a nuisance.    

Aa claimed by Census.gov in a web article posted August 9th 2024, 38.6% of children under 18 live with grandparents while also living with their parents and 8% of children live with grandparents as sole providers and caregivers.   

After review a number of statistics I've come to the conclusion that homelessness and mental health are intricately woven together. Those who are homeless are at a greater risk of developing mental health struggles, at the same time those who have mental health issues are more likely to become homelessness than others, including senior citizens.  

As stated by Huduser.gov "it was reported that the 65-year-old and older age group is the fastest growing among those experiencing homelessness'. Those experiencing homelessness as senior citizens in the United States or America are showing signs of functional impairment and other significant health issues nearly 20 years sooner than that of their peers who are housed.  

Florida's rate of homelessness is third in the nation at stated by Talgov.com, only behind large states such as New York & California   

Although there are programs that are geared to addressing homelessness as well as programs geared to addressing mental health, I was not able to find any that specifically address those two issues with the older generation in mind locally or nationally, which only lends its hand to the fact that it's not politically or socially being addressed in its full compacity. How can such a large part of our population fall within the senior citizen category and yet not all their needs are being met, even the ones that obtainable.  

I feel that the same we love on babies at the start of them living life in this world we should also love on those on their way out, with intension. We should not be looking at their mental illness or cognitive decline as a burden on our society but as a responsibility to do what is needed.  

All this may seem so large and out of reach, and it is but taking small steps around us can help. Start by reaching out to your elders, check in on them even when they don't ask and especially when they are at their worst. Reach out to those who live alone and or have lost their spouse (no matter how long ago) Make sure they are cared for and any way that you can in that moment.  

If you see an elderly person on the streets offer them kindness first and foremost and see where that takes you.  

Maybe if we start with the ones closest to us and around us it will be like dropping a pebble in a pond, having a ripple effect that we can give momentum with more programs and specific legislature and caring.