Homelessness, Ageing and Dying 43 – Travel and access to transport was a particular issue for eight interviewees’ whether living in rural areas and/or with mobility issues. – Attending for hospital appointments and/or A&E was an issue for many interviewees who reported a reluctance to attend related to long waiting time, a fear of being admitted to hospital and not being able to get alcohol, getting bad news and being unable to return to their current accommodation and worst of all having to move to a nursing home. – All of the interviewees had thought about death and their death in particular. Most either did not want to die or were afraid of dying. A small number said they were happy to die and were the opportunity to present itself they would consider suicide. – Many interviewees, particularly those that were drinking heavily, said that they just lived on a day to day basis and tried not to think too much about anything at all. That said, the thought of dying and death kept some of these individuals awake at night. – The majority of interviewees had a belief in the existence of a higher power. For some this was God, for others Jesus Christ and for others simply a spiritual or higher being and for them this made the idea of dying easier. – The majority of interviewees had not spoken about death or dying to anyone. Only one interviewee had made preparations for his death. – The majority of interviewees were concerned about where they might die. Interviewees did not want to die alone; this was a particular issue for those individuals estranged from their family. Most expressed a very strong desire to die where they were living and failing that, in hospital. Transfer to a nursing home was what many interviewees feared most. – Boredom was a particular issue for interviewees living in hostel/communal accommodation. – Many interviewees worried about their tenancies and were fearful about having to move to a nursing home. Interviewees living in communal accommodation worried about what they would do if they were ever to be excluded from their accommodation. – The interviewees were complimentary about the staff and volunteers who they had contact with but regretted there was little time to chat with staff and volunteers because they were busy.
Homelessness, Ageing and Dying
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