The Carroll Respite Center Model
Access Carroll has seen a critical need for care beyond the ambulatory care setting for homeless people with complex medical issues that do no require hospitalization but are too fragile for the streets or a homeless shelter. In addition, there is an escalating demand for a safe place for homeless persons with active substance use disorders and mental health illnesses to heal and receive intensive case management.
Since 2018, Access Carroll has collected data which supports the development of a Carrol Respite Center that embraces a three-prong solution approach of medical respite, sober respite and food pharmacy. The ultimate goal is to help people get off the street, recuperate from illnesses, and obtain stable housing. Respite programs are proven to reduce costly hospitalizations and fragmented public resource utilization, as well as reduce recidivism. Access Carroll has direct experience running medical respite care. In the summer of 2020, Access Carroll was asked by the Carroll County Commissioners to provide emergency medical respite services during the Covid-19 pandemic. This program successfully moved homeless persons off the streets of Westminster and into a safe place. 39 unique individuals were provided recuperative care and housing stabilization services.
Medical respite programs are an essential component of the continuum of care for vulnerable people. They bridge the gap between hospital and home, providing hospitals a safe discharge option and allowing patients a safe space to rest, recuperate, and work on next steps to achieve housing and health stability. (National Healthcare for the Homeless Council, Policy Brief, 2017) Respite centers are designed to be patient centric, embrace community partnerships, and offer safe transitions of care for the most vulnerable people.
In strategic partnership with LifeBridge Health, the Carroll County Commissioners, and other community stakeholders, Access Carroll announces the launch of respite services in Carroll County. We are confident the Carroll Respite Center model will be yet another successful community collaborative that may be replicated in other communities to provide safe, accountable, efficient, and compassionate care for those most in need. We embrace your support!
Medical Respite
- Acute and post-acute medical recuperative care for homeless persons 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 the hospital. ~National Healthcare for the Homeless
- While in medical respite, patients are provided medical oversight and intensive case management to connect resources and housing stabilization. This is an overnight model with an
average length of stay is 4-6 weeks under most circumstances. - Support the respite needs of LifeBridge Health patients, including Sinai Hospital and Carroll Hospital
Sober Respite
- A place where individuals who are intoxicated may safely recover from the effects of alcohol and/or drugs. ~ National Sober Initiative
- 100% of Sober Respite access is for Carroll County residents and those who are brought to the respite center by Carroll County first responders.
- The Carroll Sober Respite program will support individuals who are experiencing mental health crises and other acute presentations to rest and receive resources. First responders are the most common referral source for individuals entering into sober respite care.
- Sober respite is accessible 24/7 daily but individuals do not receive overnight accommodations like those in medical respite. Individuals may present daily for sober respite help, including food, shelter from extreme weather, showers/hygiene, and other safety resources.
Food Pharmacy
- Utilizes the benefits of healthy nutrition and access to food as a means of both creating and maintaining wellness. In Carroll County, a farm to table concept will enable fresh and healthy food choices from local producers.
- This model will connect to dieticians and other healthy food resources to teach people how to eat using food available to them, as well as understand the healing potentials of eating well.
Homelessness, addiction and untreated medical conditions are growing concerns in Carroll County. The proposed Carroll Respite Center offers a real, structured solution to help people recover and get back on their feet, which will help keep our community safer.
Click the links below for more information about Carroll Respite Center:
Carroll Respite Program – Overview & Facts
Carroll Respite Program – Bullet Points
