Providing Respite through the Recuperative Care Program
Doctors tell patients to “go home and rest.” What if someone doesn’t have a home?
Hospitality House offers the Recuperative Care Program, also known as Medical Respite, as part of its comprehensive services for Nevada County residents in need. One aspect of this program provides temporary housing for homeless individuals who no longer require hospitalization but need time to heal from injury or illness. The goal is to support recovery, reduce hospital readmissions, and improve community health. The program also saved Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital $962,814 last fiscal year.
When an unhoused patient is ready for discharge from the hospital but still needs recovery time, Hospitality House welcomes them into a Recuperative Care dorm room. “If you or I went for surgery or care at the hospital and still needed time to heal, we’d be sent home to recover,” explains Shelter Manager Sydnie Day. “Someone experiencing homelessness doesn’t have that option. That’s where Hospitality House steps in.”
Since 2018, this vital program has provided a lifeline for individuals who would otherwise face continued hardship. Guests receive a safe place to rest, nutritious meals, and 24/7 access to a bed. Staff provide wellness checks, medication reminders, and transportation to medical appointments, supporting their recovery. Guests also receive housing navigation and supportive case management to help stabilize their lives as they recover. By obtaining these services, unhoused community members are more likely to achieve better health outcomes and secure long-term, stable housing.
In the past two years, Hospitality House has helped clients through hip replacement surgery, hernia repair, and heart and lung conditions, to name a few. These individuals recovered more quickly and moved into permanent housing due to the services they received during Recuperative Care.
The Recuperative Care Program benefits more than just our unhoused community members. It supports the local hospital by keeping emergency room beds available for true emergencies. Recuperative Care costs less than extended hospital stays, leads to fewer readmissions, and saves taxpayer dollars. Providing a safe place to heal also reduces infections and the spread of disease, benefiting the entire community.
Hospitality House is grateful for our partners, the County of Nevada and Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital, who help make these services possible. The Recuperative Care Program bridges the gap between hospital discharge and recovery, improving community health and stability.