Home » Health Care Services » Specialized Services for the Elderly » Geriatric Medicine

Day Hospital at St. Mary’s of the Lake

The Day Hospital is a program to provide short-term outpatient assessment and rehabilitation for seniors with multiple health needs. These seniors are likely to benefit from seeing a team of health care professionals. Anyone can make a referral. However, your family physician must be notified and approve the referral as he/she plays a key role in follow-up.

Back to top

The Day Hospital specializes in...

  • Assessment/Review of each client’s issues, needs and concerns by a team of health care professionals
  • Management of multiple health issues and rehabilitation

Back to top

The Day Hospital Team works with...

  • Clients, families and other caregivers
  • Family physicians, Community Care Access Centre case managers and other health care providers

Back to top

lWho may benefit from the Day Hospital?

  • Aged 65 years and older with complex health issues
  • Recent decline in managing day-to-day activities
  • Difficulty with getting around
  • Recent falls or fear of falling
  • Concerns about medications
  • Recent changes in ability to cope
  • Recent changes to social supports and/or caregiver stress
  • Multiple admissions to hospital or visits to the emergency department or family physician
  • Mood/memory/thinking changes as part of other health changes
  • Recent and unexplained changes in health status

Back to top

Frequently asked questions

Q. Once I am accepted to Day Hospital, what happens next?

A: First, the Care Coordinator will call you and arrange for you to come for review/assessment visits. At each visit you will meet with different team members. They include the nurse, occupational therapist, physician, physiotherapist, social worker and support staff. We are also a teaching facility and may have health care students assisting in assessment and treatment. Your three assessment visits will be on three separate mornings over a two-week period.

Q. What happens after the three assessment visits?

A: When all of the team members have met with you, they will develop a plan for how they can help you. They may also have other recommendations. The Care Coordinator will call you to talk about the plan. If it includes treatment at the Day Hospital, you can decide if you would like to come. Treatment programs are offered in the afternoons twice weekly. You may see the pharmacist and recreation therapist, as well as the team members mentioned above. Clients should continue to visit their family doctor as per usual while attending and following discharge from Day Hospital.

Q: How do I get to the Day Hospital?

A: Some clients are able to drive, or a family member can drive them. Others travel by bus, taxi or volunteer driver services (requires a fee). You may qualify for the Kingston Access Bus if you are unable to use the regular Kingston Transit Bus. The Day Hospital can provide more information about this.

Q: I can’t walk by myself. Will there be someone to help me?

A: Yes. A staff member will meet you once you enter the hospital. If you can’t walk as far as the Day Hospital, you can be taken in a wheelchair.

Q: What happens after Day Hospital ends?

A: Some clients will return for specialized groups which may involve exercise and health education.

Q: Do I have to pay to go to the Day Hospital?

A: No. Providence Care is funded by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and the Day Hospital does not charge for its services.

Back to top

Contact information

  • Specialized Geriatrics, Day Hospital - St. Mary’s of the Lake Hospital site, Providence Care
  • 340 Union St., P.O. Box 3600, Kingston, Ontario, K7L 5A2
  • Telephone: 613-548-7222 Ext. 2410

Back to top