Research estimates that one-third or more^[1] of the unhoused population in the U.S. is age 50 or older.

Unhoused people of all ages face high rates^[2] of chronic and serious illness. They also die at younger ages^[3] compared with people who are not unhoused.

Yet, there are few options for palliative and end-of-life care for unhoused people.

Palliative care^[4] is a type of medical care that addresses pain, symptom management...

The animal tranquilizers xylazine^[1] and medetomidine^[2] are in approximately one-third of the illegal opioids available in the U.S., including fentanyl^[3], heroin^[4] and oxycodone^[5]. Animal tranquilizers enhance the user’s euphoric high from opioids, particularly in those who have developed a tolerance to the opioid^[6]. But adding the tranquilizers to these already illicit drugs could keep naloxone^[7], a medication known to prevent...