Social Model Hospice: Providing hospice and palliative care for a homeless population in Salt Lake City, Utah

Social Model Hospice: Providing hospice and palliative care for a homeless population in Salt Lake City, Utah
Journal of Hospice & Palliative Nursing; by Francine Bench Jensen, PhD, RN; Deborah Thorpe, PhD, APRN; 4/24
Abstract:  Health care for the homeless population is a complex challenge and represents a significant gap in care, particularly for those at the end of life. Hospice care may be desired but is rarely an option for people without residences, social support, and payment sources. Social model hospice is a unique paradigm of care delivery that offers a viable solution to make hospice and palliative care possible for this population. ... Recommendations for establishing social model hospices are made: key strategies include identifying stakeholders dedicated to alleviating end-of-life homelessness needs, doing a formal needs assessment to identify community resource deficits, and forming mentoring relationships with established programs.