Visiting Hospital Inpatients or 24/7 Programs

Visitor restrictions may change at any time, without prior notice

The following visiting information is applicable to:

• St. Joseph's Hospital
• Mental Health Support Housing
• Sister Margaret Smith Centre
• Balmoral Centre
• Lodge on Dawson

Effective May 25, 2023, masking will no longer be required in public areas. Masks must still be worn during appointments and while visiting inpatient areas

Required Precautions

• Self-Screen for COVID before entering
• Surgical masks provided by St. Joseph's Care Group are required to be worn during appointments and while visiting inpatient areas.

Recommended Precautions

• Clean your hands often
• Wear a mask
• Physicial Distance

Full List of Requirements, Precautions and Extra Details

Please select a sub section below, to learn more.

Visits Requirements & Precautions

End-of-Life Visits Exceptions

Self-Screening

Definitions Care Partner/General Visitors, Fully Vaccinated and more

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St. Joseph’s Care Group follows the direction of the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Long-Term Care, along with the guidance of public health.

Visits

Visitor Information

• We are currently in Step 3 of our visitation policy. General visitors are welcome.
• General visiting hours are from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm. with the following exceptions:
  • Care Partners may visit outside of visiting hours to support care needs.
  • Visitors to clients at end-of-life can visit at any time.
• Clients may have a maximum of two (2) visitors at a time, in addition to one (1) other visitor.
• Children under the age of 16 are accompanied and supervised by the visitor they are accompanying at all times, and abide by the expectations set out for visitors in the Care Partner, Family and Visitor Presence policy

Outbreak Restrictions

• When an outbreak is under initial investigation, all visiting will be paused.
• When an outbreak is declared, only one Care Partner may visit.

End-of-Life Visits

Compassionate exceptions are made for visitors to clients who are at end-of-life. End-of-life visiting is determined by the program manager in consultation with the responsible physician.

Self-Screening

Do not enter if you are experiencing any new or worsening symptoms, as listed below, which are not related to any known condition(s) you have.

Stay home until ALL of the following apply:

• No fever
• Symptoms have been improving for at least 24 hours (48 hours for gastrointestinal symptoms)
• No development of additional symptoms

ONE (1) or more of the following:

• Fever or chills
• Cough
• Runny nose or nasal congestion
• Gastrointestinal symptoms (such as vomiting or diarrhea)

TWO (2) or more of the following:

• Headache
• Extreme fatigue
• Muscle aches or joint pain
• Sore Throat
• Decreased or loss of smell or taste
• Shortness of breath

Definitions

Care Partner

• The person identified by the client or substitute decision maker (SDM) to provide essential supports to the client (e.g. caregiver who provides direct care, support feeding, mobility, hygiene, and/or cognitive stimulation).
• Care Partners may be substituted by the client or SDM in consultation with the manager.

General Visitors

A General Visitor is a person who is not an Care Partner and is visiting:

• To provide non-essential services, who may or may not be hired by the hospital or the client and/or their substitute decision maker; and/or
• For social reasons (e.g. family members or friends) that the client or their substitute decision-maker assess as different from direct care.

Visits take place during regular visiting hours.

General visitors are not permitted if a client is symptomatic, isolating under droplet and contact precautions, or lives in an area of the hospital that is in an outbreak.

Other Visitors

An other visitor is a person or persons requested by the client or SDM (substitute decision maker) as described below:

• Cultural, spiritual, or religious providers to visit and/or participate in cultural, traditional, religious ceremonies and practices for clients receiving end-of-life care or episodically. This may include support organizations, such as Hospice Northwest or Spinal Cord Injury Ontario.
• A paid support worker who provides direct care for support, feeding, mobility, hygiene, cognitive stimulation. Such visits will be prioritized and facilitated where possible.

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For visitor information on Seniors' Supportive Housing or Long-Term Care Homes, please follow their respective links.

-- Updated: May 24, 2023 --