To explore the lived experience of homeless veterans during the COVID- 19 pandemic.
Background
Homelessness is problematic in military veterans especially in a pandemic. Qualitative studies are needed to determine the needs of homeless military veterans during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Method
A qualitative, phenomenological approach was used to analyze data from interviews with homeless military veterans who had experienced the COVID-19 pandemic. Lincoln & Guba's Qualitative Integrity Framework was used for Methodological Rigor.
Data Collection
Semi-structured audiotaped interviews with field notes were used.
Data Analysis
Creswell's method of analyzing significant statements and the generation of meaningful units and essence description were implemented.
Results
These already vulnerable homeless military veterans described fear, social isolation, psychological, employment, and financial consequences, as well as health care delivery changes during COVID.
Conclusions
This study highlighted the disparities homeless military veterans experienced during the COVID- 19 pandemic. Nurses should understand the health and social concerns of this population to foster interventions that will help them adapt and persevere through a crisis.
ClairK., Ijadi-MaghsoodiR., NazinyanM., GabrielianS., & KalafonosI. (2021). Veterans Perspectives on adaptations to a VA residential rehabilitation program for substance Abuse disorder during the novel coronavirus pandemic. Community Mental Health Journal, 57, 801–807. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-021-00810-z.
4.
ClancyG., GassierD., & WlasowiczG. (2020). COVID-19 and mental health: Self-care for nursing staff. Nursing 2020, 50(9), 60–63.
5.
ClearyM., WestS., VisentinD., PhippsM., WestmanM., VeskK., & KornhaberR. (2021). The unbreakable bond: The mental health benefits and challenges of pet ownership for people experiencing homelessness. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 42(8), 741–746. https://doi.org/10.1080/01612840.2020.1843096.
6.
ColaizziP.F. (1978). Psychological research as the phenomenologist views it. In ValleR. & KingM. (Eds.), Existential phenomenological alternatives for psychology. Oxford University Press.
CreswellJ. (1998). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five traditions.Sage Publications.
10.
Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General. (2012). Homeless incidence and risk factors for becoming homeless in veterans. Retrieved from https://www.va.gov.oig/pubs/VAOIG-11-03428-173.
GerberM.R. (2020). The things they carry: Veterans and the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 35(10), 3093–3094. https://doi.10.1007/s11606-020-06048-x.
13.
GharehgozliO., NayebvaliP., GharehgozliA., & ZamanianZ. (2020). Impact of COVID-19 on the Economic Output of the US Outbreak's Epicenter. Economics of Disasters and Climate Change, 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41885-020-00069-w.
14.
HillM.L., NichterB., NaP.J., NormanS.B., MorlandL.A., KrystalJ.H., & PietrzakR.H., (2023). Mental health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in U.S. military veterans: A population-based, prospective cohort study. Psychological Medicine, 53 (3), 945–956https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291721002361.
15.
HuangC., WangY., LiX., RenL., ZhaoJ., HuY., ZhangL., FanG., XuJ., GuX., ChengZ., YuT., XiaJ., WeiY., WuW., XieX., YinW., LiH., LiuM., … CaoB. (2020). Clinical features of patients infected with 2019 novel coronavirus in Wuhan, China. The Lancet, 395(10223), 497–506. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(20)30183-5.
16.
HughesM. E., WaiteL. J., HawkleyL. C., & CacioppoJ. T. (2004). A short scale for measuring loneliness in large surveys: Results from two population-based studies. Research on Aging, 26(6), 655–672. https://doi.org/10.1177/0164027504268574.
17.
HusserlE. (1962). Ideas: General introduction to pure phenomenology.Macmillan.
18.
JacobsJ., FergusonJ., CampenJ., YefimovaM., GreeneL., HeyworthL., and ZulmanD., (2021). Telemedicine and e-health, http://doi.org/10.1089/tmj.2020.0530.
19.
KellerM., ConardP, & ArmstrongM. (2022). Homelessness: Women veterans without billets. MedSurg, 31(4), 233–238.
20.
KozloffN., MulsantB., StergiopoulosV., & VoineskosA. (2020). The COVID-19 global pandemic: Implications for people with schizophrenia and related disorders. Schizophrenia Bulletin, 46(4), 752–757. https://doi.org/10.1093/schbul/sbaa051.
21.
LakeD.M. & ArmstrongM.L. (2020). Understanding the complexities of military transitions: Service Member Deployment and Veteran Integration. Chapter 3 (pp. 53–74), In ElliottBrenda, ChargualafKatie, Barbara PattersonB. (Eds). Veteran-Centered Care in Education and Practice, Springer Publishing; New Yorkhttp://doi.org/10.1891/9780826135971.0003.
22.
LimaN., de SouzaR. I., FeitosaP., MoreiraJ., da SilvaC., & NetoM. (2020). People experiencing homelessness: Their potential exposure to COVID-19. Psychiatry Research, 288, 112945. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2020.112945.
LivingstonW.S., BrignoneE., FargoJ.D., GundlapalliA.V., MaguenS., & BlaisR.K. (2019). VHA-enrolled homeless veterans are at increased risk for eating disorder diagnoses. Military Medicine, 184(1/2), e71–75. http://doi.org/10.1093/milmed/usy175.
25.
LumH. D., NearingK., PimentelC., LevyC., HungW. (2020). Anywhere to anywhere: Use of telehealth to increase health care access for older, rural veterans. Public Policy & Aging Report, 30 (1), 12–18. https://doi.org/10.1093/ppar/prz030.
26.
MarsdenJ., DarkeS., HallW., HickmanM., HolmesJ., HumphriesK., . (2020). Mitigating and learning from the impact of COVID-19 infection on addictive disorders. Addiction, 115(6), 1007–1010. https://doi.org/10.1111add.15080.
27.
MontgomeryA., DichterM., ThomassonA., FuX., & RobertsC. (2015). Demographic characteristics associated with homelessness and risk among female and male veterans accessing VHA outpatient care. Women's Health Issues, 25, 42–48. http://doi.org//10.1016/j.whi.2014.10.003.
28.
MurphyD., WilliamsonC., BaumannJ., BusuttilW., & FearN.T. (2020). Exploring the impact of COVID-19 and restrictions to daily living as a result of social distancing within veterans with pre-existing mental health difficulties. British Medical Journal, xxxxx1–5, https://doi.org//10.1136/bmjmilitary-2020-001622.
29.
NaP.J., NormanS.B., NichterB., HillM.L., RosenM.I., PetrakisI.L., & PietrzakR.H. (2021). Prevalence, risk and protective factors of alcohol use disorder during the COVID-19 pandemic in U.S. military veterans. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 225, 351–359. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2021.108818.
30.
PolitD., & BeckC. (2021). Nursing research: Generating and assessing evidence for nursing practice (11th ed.). Wolters Kluwer.
31.
RanjaniP., GarciaA. & PeltzerJ. (2020). Healthcare safety net for the homeless: A qualitative description. International Journal of Nursing Education, 12, 102–107.
32.
ShujaK. H., AqeelM., JaffarA., & AhmedA. (2020). COVID-19 Pandemic and Impending Global Mental Health Implications. Psychiatria Danubina, 32(1), 32–35. https://doi.org/10.24869/psyd.2020.32.
33.
StaffordA., & WoodL. (2017). Tackling health disparities for people who are homeless? Start with social determinants. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 14, 1–12. http://doi.org//10.3390/ijerph14121535.
34.
TsaiJ., O'TooleT., & KearneyL. (2017). Homelessness as a public mental health and social problem: New knowledge and solutions. Psychological Services, 14, 113–117. http://dx.doi.org//10.1037/ser0000164.
WynnJ., McCleeryA., NovacekD., ReavisE., & TsaiJ. (2021). Clinical and functional effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing on vulnerable veterans with psychosis or recent homelessness. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 138, 42–49. https://doi.org//10.1016/j.psychires.2021.03.051.
