Program evaluation of a recuperative care pilot project.

Objective: A program evaluation to demonstrate the feasibility of a recuperative care pilot project to address the needs of unhoused individuals.

Design: The study is a descriptive postprogram evaluation.

Sample: A total of 73 referrals were made to the project with 23 admissions.

Measure: Data regarding number and type of referrals for admission, cost of respite care per guest and per day, hospital costs avoided, referrals to community services, and discharge destination were collected.

Intervention: A case management care model was used. The project staff included a public health nurse and an outreach worker.

Results: One local hospital accounted for 65% of all admissions. Admitting diagnoses were abscess/wound care (44%) followed by postsurgery recovery (17%). Housing resources (65%) was a common referral with 22% of guests discharged to stable housing. Actual length of stay exceeded the planned length by an average of 24 days. Total cost per guest per day was $157.45 which is an estimated savings to referring acute care facilities of between $18,000 and $48,000 per day.

Conclusions: The project demonstrated an ability to provide unhoused individuals a place to recuperate following hospitalization in a cost-effective manner. Challenges and recommendations of the program going forward were identified.