The Recuperative Care program provides bed space for 140 patients. Patients must be homeless, have an acute medical condition, and medically and physically stable. This respite program provides medical care, case management, personal care, 3 meals per day, access to long-term housing resources and placement, and reunification services for clients who have fallen out of touch with their family or support network. Wesley also provides these patients with transportation to and from medical visits and to specialists and other social services agencies in the County.

In addition to the nursing care available in Recuperative Care, the Weingart Center and Bell Shelter sites that house the program offer many other services to help break the cycle of homelessness, including housing placement, substance abuse treatment, health education, and counseling services.

What is the purpose of the Recuperative Care Program?

After release from the hospital, most individuals still need time to recover.  They may have broken bones that need to mend, dressings that need to be changed, or medications to complete.  Some just need rest and to rebuild their strength.

Homelessness can considerably hamper recovery. Inadequate meals, lack of clean facilities, and inability to maintain a schedule are all factors that can turn manageable conditions into life-threatening emergencies.  Homeless patients, after release back to the streets, often return to emergency rooms and must be re-admitted to hospitals. In an attempt to prevent these returns, many hospitals delay release of homeless patients for several days beyond what the standard of care normally requires.

Daily Cost at Recup: $225-$300 vs. $1,900-$3,000 for Hospitalization, the JWCH Recuperative Care program is able to provide an appropriate environment for recovery at a fraction of that cost.  Patients who have the opportunity to fully recover are more likely to follow aftercare instructions, and are less likely to need rehospitalization in the near future.

Who is eligible?

In order to be admitted to the Recuperative Care program, a patient must:

Be homeless	Have an acute medical illness
Be continent	Be ambulatory
Be independent in the Activites of Daily Living and medication administration	Not require IV lines, foley catheter or oxygen
Be willing to see an LVN or Registered Nurse every day and comply with medical recommendations	Be medically and psychiatrically stable enough to receive care in our Recuperative Care facility; patient must not be suicidal or homicidal
Have a condition with an identifiable end point of care for discharge