UCSF

Background

Sleep is essential to health and affected by environmental and clinical factors. There is limited longitudinal research examining sleep quality in homeless older adults.

Objective

To examine the factors associated with poor sleep quality in a cohort of older adults in Oakland, California recruited while homeless using venue-based sampling and followed regardless of housing status.

Design

Longitudinal cohort study.

Participants

244 homeless-experienced adults aged ≥ 50 from the Health Outcomes in People Experiencing Homelessness in Older Middle Age (HOPE HOME) cohort.

Main measures

We assessed sleep quality using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). We captured variables via biannual questionnaires and clinical assessments.

Key results

Our sample was predominantly men (71.3%), Black (82.8%), and had a median age of 58.0 years old (IQR 54.0, 61.0). Two-thirds of participants (67.2%) reported poor sleep during one or more study visits; sleep duration was the worst rated subdomain. In a multivariable model, having moderate-to-severe depressive symptoms (AOR 2.03, 95% CI 1.40-2.95), trouble remembering (AOR 1.56, 95% CI 1.11-2.19), fair or poor physical health (AOR 1.49, 95% CI 1.07-2.08), two or more chronic health conditions (AOR 1.76, 95% CI 1.18-2.62), any ADL impairment (AOR 1.85, 95% CI 1.36-2.52), and being lonely (AOR 1.55, 95% CI 1.13-2.12) were associated with increased odds of poor sleep quality. Having at least one confidant was associated with decreased odds of poor sleep (AOR 0.56, 95% CI 0.37-0.85). Current housing status was not significantly associated with poor sleep quality.

Conclusions

Homeless-experienced older adults have a high prevalence of poor sleep. We found that participants' physical and mental health was related to poor sleep quality. Poor sleep continued when participants re-entered housing. Access to physical and mental healthcare, caregiving support, and programs that promote community may improve homeless-experienced older adults sleep quality, and therefore, their overall health.