91泡芙

Walsh, J. (2025, October). Centring relationship: A doctoral candidate鈥檚 reflections on conducting embedded research with older people experiencing homelessness at a Canadian hospice [paper presentation]. Canadian Association on Gerontology 2025 Annual Scientific Meeting, Montr茅al, QC, Canada.

Abstract

Similar to palliative care providers, researchers studying palliative care for older peoples experiencing homelessness face barriers in recruiting and retaining participants in studies. Existing research in this area, based mainly on the perspectives and experiences of service providers, highlight the barriers facing older peoples experiencing homelessness in both palliative care services and research. A key barrier is institutional mistrust held by this population due to historical and current experiences of trauma and violence, including systemic racism, colonialism, sexism, and many other forms of discrimination. To overcome institutional mistrust, palliative care researchers must adopt innovative and flexible relational approaches focused on building trust and safety akin to their palliative care provider counterparts. These relational approaches include centring relational accountability, trauma-informed principles, and social justice. This presentation focuses on the experiences and reflections of a social work doctoral candidate centring these approaches while embedded in a Canadian hospice with a mandate to provide end-of-life care to older people experiencing homelessness and other structural vulnerabilities.