Recuperative
Care
Program
No one should be without a safe place to heal.
The Recuperative Care Program (RCP) supports people experiencing homelessness who do not have a safe home environment for recovery and recuperation with services focusing on medical, mental health, and substance use related needs. RCP offers a level of care one might receive if they returned home from a hospital stay with the support of family or other loved ones. This program fills the gap between inpatient care and shelter services.
RCP has 24/7 non-clinical staff support on-site and access to daily nursing care and care coordination. Other onsite services from community partners include: mental health counseling, peer recovery coaching, and domestic violence support and advocacy.
The facilities consist of two 2-bedroom apartments, located in close proximity to Lamoille Health Partners and Copley Hospital. Each apartment is fully accessible and has a full kitchen, shared living and dining spaces, and one bathroom.
Program guests are free to go off-site during the day, and staff can help arrange needed transportation.
What is medical respite care?
According to the National Institute of Medical Respite Care defines medical respite care as, “acute and post-acute care for people experiencing homelessness who are too ill or frail to recover from an illness or injury on the streets or in a shelter, but who do not require hospital-level care.”
The result is better care at the right time, in the right place for the homeless and lower health care costs for everyone.
For more about how medical respite programs like RCP help to bridge the gap in care for the homeless, we invite you to watch the above short documentary from the National Health Care for the Homeless Council.
Admission Requirements
The Recuperative Care program welcomes guests that meet the following requirements:
- Be an adult experiencing homelessness.
- Has a condition that can be resolved/stabilized within 8 weeks.
- Is not currently experiencing unmanaged withdrawal or detox from alcohol or drugs.
- Can self-administer medications (with home health support)
- Can independently ambulate (including with an assistive device) and complete feeding and hygiene activities.
- Has bladder and bowel control or incontinence can be self managed.
- Is not at risk of hurting self or others.
- Has a plan for obtaining medications, assistive devices, and necessary follow up appointments.
- Wants to participate in the program and comply with rules and recommendations.
Referrals may come from a healthcare provider or community partner and must be accompanied by recent medical records.