Question

Mr. Evan Pravesh is 60-year-old man in the acute stage of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. He is admitted to a nursing home because he has no family to help care for him. He has had chemotherapy in the past but has decided against further treatment. You are assigned to his care today. You find him pale and weak, with no energy to get out of bed. He also reports pain in his chest.

• 1. Mr. Pravesh says he is too weak to get up for breakfast. What should you do?

  2. How do you follow up with the pain in his chest?

  3. Mr. Pravesh calls you “Susan” when you enter his room, but that’s not your name. How do you respond?

Answer 1

NURSES PROVIDE CARE in various settings, including hospitals, clinics, schools, and home healthcare. People who are homeless may seek healthcare in any of these settings. This article discusses the challenges of homelessness and the role of nurses in caring for these patients

In 2018, an estimated 552,830 individuals experienced homelessness in the US (see 2018 Homeless statistics).1,2However, the prevalence of homelessness may be underestimated.3

According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH), approximately 17 individuals per 10,000 have experienced homelessness in the US.1 In a 2019 report, NAEH further noted an increase of 1,834 people who are homeless between 2017 and 2018.4

The rate of homelessness among older populations is also growing. As of 2008, approximately 45,000 people were homeless and over age 65 in the US; this number is expected to double by 2050.5 The reasons may vary, but lack of access to healthcare, chronic illness, poor nutrition, and unaffordable housing are all considered contributing factors.5

Meeting individual healthcare needs is crucial to population health management, and homelessness is linked to significant healthcare conditions.6 People who are homeless have a unique set of healthcare needs, many of which are unrecognized or untreated. Nurses must be available to assist them in meeting their individual needs.