Evaluating the perceived added value of a threefold intervention to improve palliative care for persons experiencing homelessness: a mixed-method study among social service and palliative care professionals.

Background: Palliative care for persons experiencing homelessness who reside in social service facilities is often late or lacking. A threefold intervention was implemented to improve palliative care for this population by increasing knowledge and collaboration between social service and palliative care professionals. This consultation service comprised: 1) consultations between social service professionals and palliative care professionals; 2) multidisciplinary meetings involving these professionals; and 3) training of these professionals.

[Healthcare for the homeless].

Homeless people have more complex problems, poorer health and shorter life expectancy (14- 16 years) than others. They often stay in an unsafe environment. Loneliness and avoidance of care reinforce their health problems.

[Homeless patients in Rotterdam with a need for medical care: data from the Rotterdam Street Doctors' office in the years 2006-2017].

Objective: To describe the demographic and medical characteristics and changes of the patients who visit the Rotterdam Street Doctors' office hours.

Design: Retrospective study of registered patient contacts from 2006-2017.

Method: Street doctors registered age, gender and ICPC diagnoses of patients in a GP information system.

End-of-life care for homeless people in shelter-based nursing care settings: A retrospective record study.

Background: Homeless people experience multiple health problems and early mortality. In the Netherlands, they can get shelter-based end-of-life care, but shelters are predominantly focused on temporary accommodation and recovery.

Aim: To examine the characteristics of homeless people who reside at the end-of-life in shelter-based nursing care settings and the challenges in the end-of-life care provided to them.

Unnatural death: a major but largely preventable cause-of-death among homeless people?

Background: We aimed to assess the contribution of specific causes-of-death to excess mortality of homeless persons and to identify differences in cause-specific mortality rates after vs. before implementing social policy measures.

Methods: We conducted a register based 10-year follow-up study of homeless adults in Rotterdam and calculated the proportion of deaths by cause-of-death in this cohort in the period 2001-2010.

[Palliative care for a homeless person].

Homeless people have substantial health disadvantages as compared to the general population, and excessive losses in life expectancy. High proportions of psychiatric disorders, substance abuse and intellectual disability have been reported. This makes palliative care for this population extremely complex.

[Street doctors warn of epidemic of uninsured homeless persons in the Netherlands].

Over the past few years, the Netherlands Street Doctors Group, a national network of doctors and nurses providing outreach primary care to homeless people in the Netherlands, has observed a growing number of homeless patients who do not have health insurance resulting in their access to healthcare services and medication being limited. In this article we raise the alarm about the epidemic of uninsured Dutch homeless. We explain and comment on the reasons why people are no longer insured and elaborate on the regulations and obligations related to homelessness and the characteristics of consumers and providers of social and medical services.

The effect of local policy actions on mortality among homeless people: a before-after study.

Background: Homeless people have a 3-5-fold increased risk of mortality compared with general populations. After 2005, policy actions being implemented in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, have improved the living conditions of this group. This study examines the effect of policies aimed at improving living conditions on mortality risks of the homeless.

Mortality and life expectancy in homeless men and women in Rotterdam: 2001-2010.

Background: Data on mortality among homeless people are limited. Therefore, this study aimed to describe mortality patterns within a cohort of homeless adults in Rotterdam (the Netherlands) and to assess excess mortality as compared to the general population in that city.

Methods: Based on 10-year follow-up of homeless adults aged ≥ 20 years who visited services for homeless people in Rotterdam in 2001, and on vital statistics, we assessed the association of mortality with age, sex and type of service used (e.