People experiencing homelessness often experience significant complex care needs, as health concerns are exacerbated by and access to adequate healthcare is curtailed by being unhoused. Medical respite care (MRC) programs were developed to address the dangerous outcomes that can occur when a person experiencing homelessness does not have a safe place to rest and recover after hospitalization. MRC does more than provide a place to rest: it seeks to address complex care needs through wrap-around care coordination and integrating health and social needs. Although the primary outcome is stabilization of an acute medical condition, MRC stays can disrupt the cycle of homelessness and improve health and well-being. This is accomplished through community and healthcare system partnerships, including hospital, primary care, and housing resources, with the use of integrated care teams.

In this webinar, Caitlin Synovec and Julia Dobbins of the National Institute for Medical Respite Care and National Health Care for the Homeless Council introduced attendees to medical respite care, its key components, and case examples of how MRC can improve the health and well-being of people experiencing homelessness.

Presenters

• Julia Dobbins, MSW, Director of Programs and Services, National Institute for Medical Respite Care
• Caitlin Synovec, OTD, OTR/L, BCMH, Program Manager, National Institute for Medical Respite Care

Additional resources

• National Institute for Medical Respite Care tool kit
• Standards for medical respite care
• Medical respite directory
• Barriers to accessing higher levels of care: Implications for medical respite care programs