Homelessness, Ageing and Dying 31 At least four interviewees had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and had regular injections to help manage their condition. Interviewees also reported having had nervous breakdowns and having to deal with depression on an on-going basis. Quite a few interviewees had been hospitalised as a result of these conditions and a number spoke about some unsuccessful suicide attempts. Most interviewees were on a variety of medication for a range of physical and mental health conditions. In some cases the medication was dispensed by staff, while in other cases staff simply held the medication and provided it as requested. One or two individuals spoke about how, if they had access to their medication, they would again attempt suicide through an overdose. SEAN Sean is just sixty. Sean finished school at 14 when he started attending hospital on a very regular basis for epilepsy. Sean has had various jobs throughout his life loading and delivering turf. Sean has always been a loner and is happy in his own company. Sean lived most of his life in the house he grew up in in the country. When this house eventually became uninhabitable, Sean moved to his current accommodation: a small Council house in a nearby village. Sean is on a cocktail of medication for his epilepsy and for various chest related complaints. He continues to be a heavy smoker. Sean prefers to talk about the past than the present. He speaks a lot about how the village and its hinterland have changed and about how he no longer knows people in the local pub. Transport is a problem for Sean and he often walks long distances to visit the nearby larger towns for a change of scenery. Sean says he would love to be working as he finds the day long with nothing to do. He occupies his time listening to the radio; he is not a good reader. He says his is a lonely life at times but that he has to bear it. Sean never thought about getting older and says he does not often worry about dying. Although he says someone did tell him he should make a will. What does worry Sean deeply is the thought that he might die and not be found for some weeks. 3.2.3 Problematic Drug and Alcohol use and dual diagnosis Almost all of the interviewees engaged in problematic alcohol use. Three interviewees had not had a drink for a number of years, while the majority continued to have issues with alcohol. One interviewee described alcohol as the ‘mild anaesthetic’ that helps him cope with life. Only one of the interviewees had been involved in sustained drug use and deterioration in her health and mobility had seen her abandon her drug habit. The vast majority of interviewees had smoked (three had quit in the last couple of years) and the majority continued to smoke between 20 and 40 a day and some considerably more, particularly at the weekends.
Homelessness, Ageing and Dying
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