ESTEVAN - The adult day program at St. Joseph’s Hospital is open once again, nearly two years after it was shut down.
Cheryl Harrison, the director of patient services for the hospital, said the program resumed during the first week in February. It had been shuttered due to safety concerns once COVID-19 was classified as a pandemic in March 2020.
The hospital was able to open it once again now that restrictions have been lifted.
“We started looking at it last fall, to open it again, because we have had lots of requests for it to reopen, but we didn’t think we safely could because of the different COVID surges that we’ve had over the past few months,” Harrison told the Mercury.
The day hospital can take up to six clients per day from Monday to Thursday, which is lower than what they had pre-COVID.
“We thought we would start with this so we could still maintain social distancing and keep people safe,” said Harrison.
It allows them to keep everybody safe and socially distanced. Services that were offered through the day program before March 2020 are accessible once again.
The day program has averaged three or four clients a day since its resumption.
“I think the word is starting to get out now, that we are open, so we’ve had more inquiries every week,” said Harrison.
Clients have had to be masked when attending the program. When exercising in the hallway, they have had to be distanced. In the adult day program room, they also practise social distancing, especially when eating lunch.
According to Harrison, masks are still required for the hospital and its amenities as per the guidelines from the Saskatchewan Health Authority that remain in place. The provincial government lifted the indoor masking requirement for most public indoor spaces on Monday.
The clients who access the program have been very happy to have it open once again, and to be able to socialize with their friends, Harrison said. Staff members have also reacted favourably.
“It’s one step closer to be being back to normal,” said Harrison.
Anyone looking for information on the day program can contact Harrison at 306-637-2403.
