PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Housing insecurity is considered a risk factor for poor health. Medical care is often a key issue.
Every winter, when the average temperature drops, there is a widespread effort to help bring people who are homeless safely indoors — but care and support is truly needed year-round.
To provide care to people who do not have secure, steady housing, a team approach is necessary. Physicians, pharmacists, case managers and social workers are all needed. In addition, care must be focused on meeting people where they are rather than waiting for patients to come to the emergency department.
People at highest risk include women, people with a history of substance abuse, people in poor mental health, and people with low levels of education. Some of the numbers are startling: 10% of adolescents in this country have experienced at least one period of homelessness, and on any given night about 10% of the people experiencing homelessness in our country are veterans.
KYW Newsradio’s Medical Reports are sponsored by Independence Blue Cross.