The effect of a non-congregate, integrated care shelter on health: A qualitative study.
Karen Alexander, Courtney D Nordeck, Amanda Rosecrans and 3 others
PMID 37102455WHAT IT FOUND
Twenty residents said they felt safer, more autonomous and healthier in a private-room integrated care shelter.
They said combined case management, nursing, residential support, security, food and transportation helped. Permanent housing remained their main need, and the shelter’s closure caused distress.
Key findings
01Participants described engagement with case management and nursing services as important to their perceived health and to positive, respectful relationships with staff.
02The non-congregate setting was described as giving residents security, autonomy and support for medical needs.
03Residents identified permanent housing as their primary need and expressed concern and distress over the shelter’s pending closure.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
Participants were recruited by shelter staff or self-selected, so those more positive about the shelter may have been over-represented. The study did not quantify which services each participant received, and several services were delivered together, so the contribution of any single component cannot be separated. Findings come from 20 residents at a single urban shelter site, so they may not apply to other settings. The study reports perceived health and experiences, not objective health outcomes, housing placement or service utilisation. Staff and administrator perspectives were not included.
Declared interests
The article is listed as supported by N.I.H. extramural and non-U.S. government research support, and the authors declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that the shelter model caused better health or housing outcomes. This is a qualitative study of 20 residents' perceptions at a single site, and the shelter provided many services together, including private rooms, case management, nursing, residential support, security, food and transportation.