Table 2 Characteristics of the people experiencing homelessness (n = 19)
From: Access to palliative care for homeless people: complex lives, complex care
| Â | n | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
Person is | ||
 - deceased | 11 | 58% |
 - in palliative phase (1) | 8 | 42% |
Sex | Â | Â |
 - male | 16 | 84% |
 - female | 3 | 16% |
Age (mean, range) | Total group: 59.8 (45–72) | Deceased: 58.4 (45–70) |
Problems preceding palliative phase (multiple categories possible) | ||
 - drug addiction (including alcohol) | 17 | 89% |
 - psychiatric diagnosis (e.g. schizophrenia) | 5 | 26% |
 - (mild) intellectual disability | 3 | 16% |
 - financial problems | 1 | 5% |
 - illegal resident | 2 | 11% |
Expected or actual cause of death (multiple answers possible) | ||
 - cancer | 8 | 42% |
 - liver cirrhosis | 3 | 16% |
 - COPD | 3 | 16% |
 - sepsis | 2 | 11% |
 - renal failure | 2 | 11% |
 - cardiovascular disease | 2 | 11% |
 - diabetes | 1 | 5% |