A recent scoping review by Lakehead University, published in BMC Palliative Care on July 18, highlights significant barriers to accessing palliative care for individuals experiencing homelessness, largely due to past negative interactions with healthcare providers. The review, which examined 45 studies, reveals that unhoused individuals face unique challenges in receiving care, including a lack of trust in healthcare professionals and systemic issues like stigmatization and racism. Additionally, healthcare policies, such as those restricting substance use or defining family, can prevent access to necessary services.
Palliative care aims to improve the quality of life for patients with serious, often terminal, illnesses. While Canada’s palliative care services are growing, the review notes that the average life expectancy of unhoused individuals is much lower, typically between 34 and 47 years, compared to the general population. Negative healthcare experiences and limited access to care often delay recognition of the need for palliative support.
The study suggests solutions like integrating palliative care within shelter services, embedding specialists in shelters, and implementing harm reduction policies. Thunder Bay’s Shelter House is already moving forward with offering palliative care units within its Managed Alcohol Program, aiming to provide better care for those in need.
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