Program Overview
The Connections for the Homeless Medical Respite Program (MRP) is located at the Margarita Inn in Evanston, IL. “Medical respite care is defined as acute and post-acute care for people experiencing homelessness who are too ill or frail to recover from a physical illness or injury on the streets, but who are not ill enough to be in a hospital.” (Reference)
Individuals accepted into the MRP will receive short-term residence in a former hotel. The goal of the MRP is to facilitate health stabilization and increase independence around healthcare while seeking a permanent housing solution. Participants in the MRP must actively engage in housing case management services. Participants in the MRP must be healthy enough to independently care for themselves, including eating, bathing, and mobility. While the MRP will strive to work with community-based providers to meet participants’ special needs, the program does not provide skilled nursing care that is available in a nursing home or an assisted living facility.
Individuals accepted into the MRP will receive short-term residence in a former hotel. The goal of the MRP is to facilitate health stabilization and increase independence around healthcare while seeking a permanent housing solution. Participants in the MRP must actively engage in housing case management services. Participants in the MRP must be healthy enough to independently care for themselves, including eating, bathing, and mobility. While the MRP will strive to work with community-based providers to meet participants’ special needs, the program does not provide skilled nursing care that is available in a nursing home or an assisted living facility.
Services Offered
Participants will have access to resources of both the shelter program and the MRP, including housing case management, healthcare coordination, and other supportive services such as:
- Transportation assistance to medical appointments
- Evaluation of urgent medical problems
- Assistance with telehealth visits
- Referrals to community resources
- Transition planning for exiting the MRP
- 24/7 on-site operations support
- On-site medical staff during usual business hours
- 24/7 access to “on-call” medical support
- Management of acute and chronic conditions
- Medication management (education, instruction)
- Care coordination with primary care providers and specialists
- Mental health screening and referrals for treatment
- Supportive counseling
- Substance use screening and referrals for treatment
- Advocacy and support for participants’ health needs
- Health education
Description of the Facility
The MRP is operated within the Margarita Inn, a non-congregate shelter for adults ages 18 and older. The Margarita Inn is a former hotel near downtown Evanston and close to public transportation (CTA, Metra, and local bus routes are all within walking distance). The shelter has more than 40 rooms, most of which are roommate rooms. Some rooms can accommodate families, couples, or individuals with a medical need for a private room. Each room has a bathroom, closet, dresser, small refrigerator, television, phone, and Wi-Fi access. Rooms are accessed via keycards. Only participants and staff are allowed in the building. The Margarita Inn is staffed 24 hours per day, 7 days a week by trained operations staff.
Referral Process
Applicants for the MRP must be referred by hospital personnel, the staff of a partner agency, or Connections for the Homeless staff member. Please refer to the inclusion and exclusion criteria below to assess a candidate’s eligibility for the MRP. Community and health care partners that provide referrals to our program include:
- Other medical respite providers
- The Regional Medical Respite Referral Network
- Endeavor Health
- Ascension Saint Francis Hospital
- The City of Evanston
- Peer Services
- Impact Behavioral Health
- Trilogy Behavioral Healthcare
- Other medical insurance providers
Admission Criteria
To be eligible for MRP, the individual must meet both the clinical and non-clinical criteria but not have any of the exclusion criteria.
Non-clinical eligibility requirements:
Non-clinical eligibility requirements:
- Applicant is homeless and has no housing options
- Applicant is aged 18 or older (younger participants may be admitted if they have a caregiver)
- Applicant has a connection to north suburban Cook County (e.g., Cook County is the location of a past residence, family, a school attended, or current work)
- Applicant can live independently in a room with a roommate
- have an acute medical need from which they are expected to recover
- be free of communicable diseases that might be transmitted to others through usual activities
- be behaviorally appropriate for a group setting
- be willing to take prescribed medications
- adhere to medical treatment plans
- be independent in the typical activities of daily living (including mobility, eating, toilet use, personal hygiene)
- be independent in toilet use (able to control bowel and bladder functions)
- exhibit behavior that is appropriate for a group living setting
- have a durable power of attorney for health care in place
- have a 15-day supply of all medication unless a shorter course is prescribed
- have any needed durable medical equipment needed (e.g., respiratory equipment, assistive devices, tube feeding equipment)
- test negative for COVID within 2 days of admission
- have a negative screening test for tuberculosis, either a two-step PPD or a serum QuantiFERON Gold (or a positive tuberculosis test with documented treatment)
- will likely cause dangerous situations for themselves or others
- will likely interfere with the care and comfort of other participants
- requires a social, religious, cultural, or dietary regimen that cannot be met by the shelter
- needs a level of medical, mental health, or nursing care that cannot be provided
- is listed on the sex-offender registry
- has a criminal background involving arson or a violent crime
- has dementia and is likely to wander
- has mobility needs the facility cannot accommodate