Resource Details

Medication Support and Medical Respite Care

A Guide for Programs

Year Developed: 2022

Resource Type: Publication.

Primary Audience: Clinicians
Secondary Audience: Administrative Staff Board of Directors C-Suite (CEOs, CFOs, CIO, COOs, CMOs, etc.) Enabling Staff Outreach Staff PCAs

Language(s): English

Developed by: National Health Care for the Homeless Council (See other resources developed by this organization).

Resource Summary: Support for medication management is an important part of medical respite care and overall health management. However, it is critical that programs provide appropriate support within their staff’s scope of practice and licensing, and that practices for medication storage and supervision follow state licensure and regulations. Medical respite care programs can utilize this document to determine the most appropriate type of medication support they can provide within their program, and identify steps and strategies to provide this support in a safe and effective way.

Resource Details: Medical respite care is a critical opportunity for people experiencing homelessness to address acute medical needs. Medical respite care1 is defined as “acute and post-acute medical care for people experiencing homelessness who are too ill or frail to recover from a physical illness or injury on the streets, but who are not ill enough to be in a hospital”.2 A medical respite care admission presents an opportunity for a person experiencing homelessness to focus on their health and gain stability while basic needs are met. A key piece of maintaining health is the skillset of self-managing medication. Support for medication management is an important part of medical respite care and overall health management. However, it is critical that programs provide appropriate support within their staff’s scope of practice and licensing, and that practices for medication storage and supervision follow state licensure and regulations. Medical respite care programs can utilize this document to determine the most appropriate type of medication support they can provide within their program, and identify steps and strategies to provide this support in a safe and effective way.

Resource Topic: Clinical Issues, Quality, Special and Vulnerable Populations

Resource Subtopic: , Quality Improvement.

Keywords: Patient Education, Persons Experiencing Homelessness, Physical Activity.