| Popis: |
The aim of this study is to examine the experienced needs of elderly (65 years or older) homeless individuals who, currently, lives in supported housing facilities. The study is based on five qualitative unstructured interviews with five elderly homeless men living in two separate supported housing facilities. The theoretical framework is Maslows hierarchy of needs. The results of the study show that the elderly homeless in this study experience three types of needs, of which two are perceived as more important. The third type of needs (which falls under what Maslow describe as ” safety needs” and concerns the physical health), for which they experience that they get necessary help, constitutes more of an obstacle to meet their other needs. These two main needs are needs of belongingness and love (specifically needs to establish and/or maintain relationships to others such as family or friends) and, partly, needs of self-actualization (specifically needs to engage in activities which they are” suited” for and which interests them). One main problem to meet their needs, apart from their physical health problems, is associated with their current housing situation which limits their possibilities to meet these need as a result of e.g. existing rules and restrictions. |
