Pilot Feasibility Trial of HEALthy Beginnings for Middle-Aged, and Older Homeless Women

A Pilot Feasibility Trial of HEALthy Beginnings: A Trauma-Informed, Chronic Disease Self-Care Intervention for Middle-Aged, and Older Homeless Women

This is a mixed methods pilot feasibility trial of HEALthy Beginnings, an innovative, nurse-driven intervention. Middle-aged and older, homeless women (MAO-HW) will participate in the HEALthy Beginnings intervention and select MAO-HW will be invited to participate in post-intervention qualitative focus groups to evaluate the program.

This pilot feasibility trial will enroll middle-aged and older, homeless women (MAO-HW) in the HEALthy Beginnings intervention. Participants will be asked to complete a baseline questionnaire and locator guide. Participants will then engage over a period of approximately three months in nine 60-90 minute group sessions focused on health topics, and to meet with a research team member for six private sessions which will last up to 45 minutes each to assess the program and discuss content.

Fifteen participants will be asked to return at completion of the group/individual sessions to participate in a post-intervention qualitative focus group and follow-up questionnaire to evaluate the HEALthy Beginnings intervention.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Self-reported age 40 years or older
• Sex assigned Female at birth
• Homeless, or living in a shelter designed to provide transitional housing
• Self-reported multimorbidity (at least 2 physical/mental health conditions)
• Able to communicate in English

Exclusion Criteria:

• Experiencing hallucinations
• Exhibiting signs of acute intoxication (e.g., slurred speech, pin-point pupils, difficulty walking)
• Non-English speaking
• Unable to understand study procedures (e.g., screening questions)