Medical Respite: Bridging the Gap for Those Without Shelter

In mid-2025, Jayme Richland of Burlington was facing multiple crises: a serious medical condition left neglected for too long had put his health – and his foot – at risk; years of living with substance use disorder had left him isolated and struggling to ensure his basic needs were met; and the sudden and looming threat of eviction while he was in the hospital recovering from surgery had put in jeopardy Jayme’s ability to continue getting the care and treatment he needed. Join us as Jayme shares his remarkable story of recovery and healing, and how after eviction he found stability and a place to call home through a recently-launched medical respite program at UVM Health – Home Health and Hospice. Hear from experts with decades of experience providing care and support to individuals experiencing housing insecurity, including Dr. Lincoln Heath of Community Health Centers of Burlington, veteran case worker and community resource coordinator Chris Lazar, and registered nurse and Medical Respite Program Director April Plante, RN, about the need and impact of Home Health’s Medical Respite Program, which is aimed at addressing gaps in care and support for individuals struggling with housing insecurity.