Homeless-- where do they go after discharge?

[AmericanChai]

Today in clinicals there was a pt who had on their chart that they were homeless. They had been in hospital for awhile recovering and making progress. But what happens after discharge to such people? Do they get turned back out on the streets when they get better? Or are they placed in a group home or something? It just seems a shame to spend effort and time (not to mention tax money) to heal someone, feed them good food, get them all better, just to turn them back out on the street again. This person seemed to have some mental health issues but maybe not severe enough to have court ordered help.

[sethmctenn]

Many people who live on the street have untreated psych issues that prevent them from successfully integrating back into society. It's such a shame that there aren't better options for those people. (and no, I don't claim to have the answer)

[NurseLoveJoy88, ASN, RN]

I was homeless before and when I was d/c from the hospital I was given a list of shelters.

[Jules A, MSN]

Sometimes they are discharged to places like this one in DC http://www.christhouse.org/

other times they end up back on the street....or back in a shelter or group home.

This is similar to the options we offer also. FWIW homeless people have rights and many of them are not happy living how we might expect. I can't count the number of frequent fliers we get that have been set up in apartments and for different reasons, often paranoia, it doesn't work out.

[S.Gettes]

Sometimes a social worker will speak with the homeless patient before they are discharged in an effort to see whether they can locate friends or family members who may be able to provide accomodation to the patient, even if only for a temporary period of time, other times they may see if they can refer the patient to a hostel or shelter. Unfortunately though, plenty of times, the patients are simply left to be discharged from the hospital and to from there go back to life they way that they live it. There are some homeless who will intentionally become ill or injured in order to be admitted into hospital, it is sad to see that some people have to do these things in order to get shelter and clean food and water no matter their mental state or what caused them to live on the streets. It is just the same as the homeless who intentionally break the law hoping to be put into prison. Some homeless people can look just like any other person walking around the streets, they dress smart, they don't give anything away about their plight in being homeless but every night they sleep in a park on a bench or where ever they can find shelter and feel safe. These days thanks to the economic situation we are facing there are many people who now live in what are dubbed as Tent Cities.

[deleern]

We had a Homeless man that was admitted that was recovering from a triple bypass. He recovered. Our SS found a half way house for him. so he wouldn't be homeless and that lasted a week. he went back to the street... His dearest possession was a laptop computer.

[FinNurse]

Here in Finland they go back out drinking after recovering Not a word of changing theyr habbits. Sad but true, you cant save everyone. This is what we have to deal with