Medical Respite Care

Medical respite care, also referred to as recuperative care,   is acute and post-acute medical care for homeless persons who are too ill or frail to recover from a physical illness or injury on the streets but are not ill enough to be in a hospital. Unlike “respite” for caregivers, “medical respite” is short-term residential care that allows homeless individuals the opportunity to rest in a safe environment while accessing medical care and other supportive services. Examples include programs and facilities across the United States and Canada. A large facility in Boston, Massachusetts (United States) called the Barbara McIinnis House provides medical respite care to men and women in need of a safe place to recuperate after leaving a hospital. Another program, Central City Concern's Recuperative Care Program provides medical respite care to adults facing homelessness in the Portland, Oregon area.

Studies and discussion about medical respite care include works on an individual and program level. Medical respite care has been discussed in the American Medical New Ethics Forum.