Introduction
The Standards for Medical Respite Care Programs (the Standards) give direction for medical respite care programs to operate safely and effectively in providing care to people experiencing homelessness. The Standards were developed from the Respite Care Providers’ Network (RCPN) and a community of medical respite providers to ensure consistency in the vital aspects of medical respite programs, despite the diversity in staffing, Models of Care, and partnerships. Programs can utilize the Organizational Self-Assessment Tool to measure their fidelity to the Standards and identify areas for growth and quality improvement.
Programs can use this resource, the Standards Companion, to align their delivery of services to meet the Standards.
The Standards Companion is comprised of three sections for each Standard:
1) NIMRC resources that directly relate to that Standard,
2) Examples from existing medical respite programs, and
3) Links to external resources that relate to that Standard.
NIMRC Resources:
- Medication Support and Medical Respite Care: A Guide for Programs (PDF)
- Trauma Informed Environment in Medical Respite (Webinar Recording + Slides)
- Checklist for Creating a Trauma Informed Environment in Medical Respite (Fillable PDF)
- NHCHC Safety and Security – Addressing External Risk Factors Webinar (Webinar Recording)
- Site Tour: Joseph and Mary’s Home Cleveland, Ohio (YouTube Video)
Program Examples:
- Standard 1 Examples (PDF)
Additional Resources:
These links lead to external websites that are not specifically focused on medical respite, but provide information that can supplement or support meeting the Standards.
- Access to Medical Care for Individuals with Mobility Disabilities
- ADA Standards for Accessible Design
- ADA Title III Technical Assistance Manual
- National Fire Protection Association: Cooking Safety
- National Fire Protection Association: Heating Safety
- National Fire Protection Association: Emergency Evacuation Planning Guide for People with Disabilities
- National Safety Council: Prepare Your Family for Fire Emergencies: Escape Route Designing
- Key Considerations for Implementing Emergency Shelter Within an Effective Crisis Response System
NIMRC Resources:
- Medication Support and Medical Respite Care (PDF)
- Introduction to the Clinical Guidelines for Medical Respite Care (PDF)
- Clinical Guidelines for Medical Respite Care: COVID-19 and Airborne Infectious Disease (PDF)
Program Examples:
- Standard 2 Examples (PDF)
Additional Resources:
These links lead to external websites that are not specifically focused on medical respite, but provide information that can supplement or support meeting the Standards.
- Interfaith Works Homeless Services Bloodborne Pathogens Training
- HUD Exchange Disease Risks and Homelessness
- HUD Exchange Infection Disease Toolkit for CoCs
- Infectious Disease Toolkit for Continuums of Care: Preventing & Managing the Spread of Infectious Disease Within Shelters
- Guidelines on Bed Bug Control and Prevention in HUD Insured and Assisted Multifamily Housing
- CDC Bed Bugs Resources
- Guidelines for Prevention and Management of Bed Bugs in Shelters and Group Living Facilities
NIMRC Resources:
- Referral Tracking Tool Sample (Excel Spreadsheet)
- Medical Respite Care Referrals and Trauma-Informed Admissions (PDF)
- Online Course: Trauma-Informed Care in Medical Respite (Online Course)
Program Examples:
- Standard 3 Examples (PDF)
Additional Resources:
These links lead to external websites that are not specifically focused on medical respite, but provide information that can supplement or support meeting the Standards.
NIMRC Resources:
- Role of the Behavioral Health Consultant within Medical Respite Care (Online Course)
- Trauma-Informed Care in Medical Respite (Online Course)
- Harm Reduction in Medical Respite Care (Online Course)
- Falls Screening in Medical Respite Care Guide (Fillable PDF Version)
- Clinical Guidelines:
- Introduction of Clinical Guidelines (PDF)
- Clinical Guideline in Medical Respite Care: Chronic Conditions (PDF) + Webinar Recording
- Clinical Guidelines in Medical Respite Care: Incontinence (PDF) + Webinar Recording
- Clinical Guidelines for Medical Respite Care: Activities of Daily Living (PDF) + Webinar Recording
- Covid-19 and Infectious Diseases (PDF)
- Cardiovascular Conditions (PDF)
- Neurological Conditions (PDF)
- Pre- and Post-Operative Care (PDF)
- Respiratory Conditions (PDF)
- Skin and Subcutaneous Conditions (PDF)
- Addressing Cognition (PDF) + Webinar Recording
- Addressing Dementia (PDF) + Webinar Recording
- Promising Practices: Providing Behavioral Health Care in a Medical Respite Setting (PDF) + Webinar Recording
- Medication Support and Medical Respite Care: A Guide for Programs (PDF)
- Elements of a Care Plan (PDF)
- Foundations of LGBTQI Health Service Delivery: Terminology, Concepts, and Best Practices (Webinar Recording)
- Health Centers Improve Health Outcomes with Medical Respite Care (PDF)
- Pathways for Incorporating OT Services into Medical Respite Care Programs (PDF)
- Barriers to Accessing Higher Levels of Care: Implications for Medical Respite Care Programs (PDF)
- Interdisciplinary Care in Homeless Services (Online Resources)
Program Examples:
- Standard 4 Examples (PDF)
Additional Resources:
These links lead to external websites that are not specifically focused on medical respite, but provide information that can supplement or support meeting the Standards.
- Interprofessional Education Collaborative : IPEC Core Competencies
- American Medical Association: Advancing Health Equity – A Guide to Language, Narratives, and Concepts
- Choosing Appropriate Language to Reduce the Stigma Around Mental Illness and Substance Use Disorders
- Shatterproof: Addiction Language Guide
NIMRC Resources:
- Role of the Community Health Workers, Case Managers, and Peers within Medical Respite (Online Course)
- Trauma-Informed Care in Medical Respite (Online Course)
- Harm Reduction in Medical Respite Care (Online Course)
- Medical Respite Care: The Role of Case Managers, Community Health Workers, and Peers (Online Course)
- Skills, Tools, and Strategies for Case Managers, Community Health Workers, and Peers (PDF)
- Supporting Peer Work During a Pandemic (Webinar Recording)
- From Recuperation to Life-Long Leadership: Consumer Governance in Medical Respite (PDF)
- Community Health Worker Guide (Webinar Recording)
- Integrating Community Health Workers into Primary Care Practice (PDF)
- InFocus: Vital Role of Case Management for Individuals Experiencing Homelessness (PDF)
- Elements of a Care Plan in Medical Respite Settings (Fillable PDF)
Program Examples:
- Standard 5 Examples (PDF)
Additional Resources:
These links lead to external websites that are not specifically focused on medical respite, but provide information that can supplement or support meeting the Standards.
NIMRC Resources:
- MRC Online Course: Discharge Planning and Processes (Online Course)
- Housing and the MRC Program: A Practical Guide to Navigating the Homeless Response System (Fillable PDF)
- Expanding Options for Health Care Within Homelessness Services: CoC Partnerships with Medical Respite Care Programs (PDF)
- One Community’s Collaborative Approach: A Spotlight on Yakima, Washington (PDF)
- Barriers to Accessing Higher Levels of Care (PDF)
- Healing Hands: From Homelessness to Housing (PDF)
Program Examples:
- Standard 6 Examples (PDF)
Additional Resources:
These links lead to external websites that are not specifically focused on medical respite, but provide information that can supplement or support meeting the Standards.
NIMRC Resources:
- Role of the Community Health Workers, Case Managers, and Peers within Medical Respite (Online Course)
- Trauma-Informed Care in Medical Respite (Online Course)
- Harm Reduction in Medical Respite Care (Online Course)
- Role of a Behavioral Health Consultant in MRC (Online Course)
- Safety & Security Series (Online Course)
- Trauma-Informed Environment In Medical Respite (Webinar Recording)
- Promising Practices: Providing Behavioral Health Care in Medical Respite Settings (PDF)
- The Longest Journey – Reflections on Antiracism in Organizations Serving People without Homes (PDF)
- Foundations of LGBTQI Health Service Delivery: Terminology, Concepts, and Best Practices (Webinar Recording)
Program Examples:
- Standard 7 Examples (PDF)
Additional Resources:
These links lead to external websites that are not specifically focused on medical respite, but provide information that can supplement or support meeting the Standards.
- Training Courses | HHRC (hhrctraining.org)
- Mental Health First Aid
- Crisis Prevention Institute
- De-escalation Tips: CPI
- ACES Video
- Welcome to the Motivational Interviewing Website! | Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT)
- Empathetic Communication 101
- Core Motivational Interviewing Skills
- A Quick Guide to HIPAA Compliance Training Requirements for Employers | National Safety Compliance (osha-safety-training.net)
- Shatterproof: Addiction Language Guide
NIMRC Resources:
- MRC Online Course: Demonstrating Quality in Medical Respite Care – The Importance of Data (Online Course)
- Outcome Measures & Data Collection: Recommendations for Medical Respite Programs (PDF)
- Identifying Outcomes for Medical Respite Care Programs (PDF)
- Medical Respite Organizational Self-Assessment Tool (Online Survey) + (PDF Version)
- Health Centers Improve Health Outcomes with Medical Respite Care (PDF)
- Referral Tracking Sample (PDF)
Program Examples:
- Standard 8 Examples (PDF)
Additional Resources:
These links lead to external websites that are not specifically focused on medical respite, but provide information that can supplement or support meeting the Standards.
This publication is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $1,967,147 with 20 percent financed with non-governmental sources. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government. For more information, please visit HRSA.gov.