The effects of respite care for homeless patients: a cohort study.
OBJECTIVE
Homeless individuals experience high rates of physical and mental illness, increased mortality, and frequent hospitalizations. Respite care provides homeless individuals with housing and services allowing more complete recovery from illnesses and stabilization of chronic conditions.


METHODS
We investigated respite care's impact on 225 hospitalized homeless adults consecutively referred from an urban public hospital during a 26-month period. The cohort was separated into 2 groups: (1) patients referred and accepted into the respite center and (2) patients referred but denied admission because beds were unavailable. All patients met the center's predefined eligibility criteria. Main outcome measures were inpatient days, emergency department visits, and outpatient clinic visits.


RESULTS
The 2 groups had similar demographic characteristics, admitting diagnoses, and patterns of medical care use at baseline. During 12 months of follow-up, the respite care group required fewer hospital days than the usual care group (3.7 vs 8.3 days; P=.002), with no differences in emergency department or outpatient clinic visits. Individuals with HIV/AIDS experienced the greatest reduction in hospital days.


CONCLUSIONS
Respite care after hospital discharge reduces homeless patients' future hospitalizations.
Buchanan
David
D
Department of Medicine at Stroger Hospital of Cook County, Chicago, Illinois, USA. david_buchanan@rush.edu
Doblin
Bruce
B
Sai
Theophilus
T
Garcia
Pablo
P
D000328:Adult; D000359:Aftercare / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002641:Chicago; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006208:Halfway Houses / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006779:Hospitals, Public / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006786:Hospitals, Urban / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012144:Respite Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies