Resource Details

Housing and the Medical Respite Care Program: A Practical Guide to Navigating the Homelessness Response System

Year Developed: 2023

Resource Type: Publication.

Primary Audience: Clinicians
Secondary Audience: Enabling Staff

Language(s): English

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

Resource Summary: Medical respite care (MRC) is an essential part of the health care and homelessness response system’s continuum for unhoused community members. Medical respite care is defined as acute and post-acute 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. While programs vary in size and structure, they are all guided by the Standards for Medical Respite Care Programs (the Standards) and share the same fundamental element: short-term residential care that allows people experiencing homelessness the opportunity to rest, recover, and heal in a safe environment while accessing medical care and other supportive services. Within the Standards, Standard 5 states, “Medical respite program assists in health care coordination, provides wraparound services, and facilitates access to comprehensive support services.” Additionally, Standard 6 states, “Medical respite program facilitates safe and appropriate care transitions out of medical respite care.” Unfortunately, there are challenges in meeting and exceeding these two standards due to a significant lack of affordable housing that meets the needs of various community members within the United States (US), and the complexity of the homelessness response system and housing process to access available housing. In response to this challenge, the National Institute for Medical Respite Care (NIMRC) has developed this guide to support medical respite care programs with: Foundation information surrounding the Homelessness Response System (HRS) and Hounsing and Sociall Service Discharge Resources.

Resource Details: In response to this challenge, the National Institute for Medical Respite Care (NIMRC) has developed this guide to support medical respite care programs with: Foundation information surrounding the Homelessness Response System (HRS) and Hounsing and Sociall Service Discharge Resources.

Resource Topic: Special and Vulnerable Populations, , , Health Equity, , Health Equity

Resource Subtopic: , Patient-Centered Health Outcomes.

Keywords: Persons Experiencing Homelessness, Access to Care, Housing.