Medical Respite Centre

Medical Respite Centre: A Vital Step in Post-Hospital Care for People Experiencing Homelessness

The Medical Respite Centre, funded by the Department of Health, provides 20 dedicated medical beds for individuals experiencing homelessness. Residents can stay for up to 14 days, receiving care in a safe and supportive environment with 24-hour nursing care and daily GP clinics to help stabilise their health.

This is the first facility of its kind in Western Australia, specifically designed to support people post-hospital discharge. Admission is by hospital referral only, ensuring that those most in need receive timely care. The service operates from a building in Carlisle, which has been purchased by the East Metropolitan Health Service, securing a stable and long-term location for its vital work.

For individuals experiencing homelessness, time spent in medical respite can be a critical turning point in their recovery, offering:

A safe and stable environment to rest, sleep, eat nutritious meals, and escape the constant stress of living on the streets.
Access to support workers who assist in securing housing, accommodation, and other essential community services.
Therapeutic activities and skill-building opportunities that foster independent living and long-term stability.
Round-the-clock nursing care and regular GP clinics to manage and stabilise health conditions, preventing further deterioration.

Addressing a Critical Gap in the Healthcare System.

Modern hospital care has evolved, with initiatives like hospital-in-the-home leading to earlier discharges and shorter hospital stays. However, many patients are released before they are fully recovered, particularly those who are experiencing homelessness. Without a stable place to stay, they struggle to access follow-up care, leading to high rates of unplanned hospital readmissions.

The Medical Respite Centre bridges this gap, ensuring that people experiencing homelessness can recover in a supportive setting without occupying costly hospital beds unnecessarily. This approach not only improves health outcomes but also reduces strain on the healthcare system.

Proven Success in Reducing Hospitalisations

Medical respite programs have been successfully implemented in the United States, where studies show they lead to significant reductions in hospital admissions and readmissions. Recognising the effectiveness of this model, Homeless Healthcare launched Western Australia’s first Medical Respite Centre in October 2021, offering an innovative, cost-effective solution to improve health and housing outcomes for some of the community’s most vulnerable individuals.

MRC Resident

“At this stage of my life all my needs were taken care of and so much more. Not only did my health improve (diabetic/foot ulcers) by the care given to me, my mental health also improved and restored dignity, hope, self worth, and clarity of direction going forward on my journey made possible by the interactions and advice from all staff, nurses and guests at this facility. I have learnt valuable life skills that will stay with me for the rest of my life. I have experienced genuine care, compassion and empathy from everyone at this facility and will be forever grateful.”

MRC First Year Evaluation

MRC EVALUATION

MRC Two Year Evaluation

MRC EVALUATION

Short-term supported accommodation.

HHC’s short term supported accommodation (StayWitch’s) is no longer operating. However, information on the service remains on our website as, with sufficient funding, we intend to provide a similar service in the future.

StayWitch’s fills a critical void, harnessing the window of opportunity after a hospital presentation to provide people with a supportive restorative environment, and ‘buying time’ to connect them to housing and support services, whilst also empowering and equipping them with enhanced skills for independent living. Previously, people were often discharged from hospital to substandard backpacker hostels, only to return to hospital a few days later.

We believe that a homely environment with therapeutic and wellbeing activities and supports embedded, is critical. It is the ‘small things’ that restore a sense of self-worth, hope, trust, and a vision of a future life where one is no longer homeless. Small things like pottering in a garden, chatting with someone while preparing a meal, mastering how to log in to a computer, chatting to someone who has a lived experience of what you have been through – many of us take such things for granted, but these small things are the turning point for many people, paving a future that is no longer defined by ‘homelessness’.

Life Skills and Well-Being at StayWitch’s

LotteryWest has generously sponsored a Life Skills and Well-being program within StayWitch’s which included:

Peer support workers to provide empathy, advocacy, and strengths-based support, stemming from a blend of lived experience and specialised knowledge relating to mental health, addiction and homelessness.

Kitchen garden and nutrition to support recovery and meaningful use of time. Improving health through not only the provision of healthy food, but an increased understanding and re-connection to food, both its growing, cooking and communal sharing.
Movement and exercise. Introducing residents to exercise and healthy living as appropriate to their respective circumstances.

Computer literacy, financial counselling, assistance with obtaining personal documentation programs. A dedicated visiting services room has been set up to assist implementation of these programs, coordinated through the PSW.