Building a University-Community Partnership to Explore Health Challenges Among Residents at Extended-Stay Hotels

Abstract

Extended-stay hotels are housing solutions for some older adults on the fringe of street homelessness. Research indicates that these environments can produce negative health outcomes for older adults. Strategies for managing negative environmental conditions must be identified to help older adults manage health outcomes. This paper describes a university-community partnership that empowered older adults to come together and focus on mental and physical health outcomes while precariously housed in extendedstay hotels. Contributions from various phases of the university-community partnership are described along with mutually beneficial outcomes.