Saskatoon seniors to benefit from new health centre

Saskatchewan’s health minister says we can expect to see more community health centres like the one now open at Market Mall.

The Market Mall Community Health Centre offers specialized services, seven days a week, with extended evening hours and home visits when needed.

Linda Olbert acted as an advisor to bring the project from its infancy to reality. She said the facility offers peace of mind for seniors who live nearby.

“It’s very nice to think, if they have an incident, that this centre is here, and it has longer hours to respond because accidents just don’t happen 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.,” Olbert said.

The centre will help seniors live healthy, independent lives while lowering the number of visits to the emergency department, taking some of the pressure off of hospitals in the city.

“For example, they (seniors) are going to have a pace-maker clinic here, and so people who always have to go to the hospital, now they can get it here,” Olbert said. “I.V. infusions, again, you have to go to the hospital for. Now they can just come here.”

The centre is strategically located in the Nutana Suburban Centre, which has Saskatoon’s largest senior population.

“Our physicians and staff are excited to assist older adults with the support they need to avoid going to hospital unless needed,” said Suann Laurent, Saskatchewan Health Authority’s chief operating officer. “To remain at home when things become more difficult and to return home after a hospital stay.”