Meet the Community Day Support Program team, St. Joseph’s Auxiliary Hospital

The cheers were still echoing when Shay Reddy finished her victory lap around the room. Her Community Day Support Program team at St. Joseph’s Auxiliary Hospital, a Covenant Health site in Edmonton, had just heard the announcement that they were the official recipients of Covenant’s 2025 Mission Award for Respect, and the celebration had been instant. Pom-poms waved, high-fives flew and staff members jumped up and down in disbelief.

“It was really exciting to win,” says Shay, a recreation therapist who has been with Covenant Health for over a decade. “It took us a second to realize they said Community Day Support.”

The moment was about more than just receiving an award. It was about gaining recognition for a team that quietly transforms lives every day, not with grand gestures, but with consistent, compassionate care.

The Community Day Support Program at St. Joseph’s Auxiliary Hospital is a lifeline for older adults in Edmonton who want to remain independent but need a little extra support. Clients attend the program one or two days a week, where they receive physiotherapy, occupational therapy, recreation therapy, nursing care and, just as importantly, social connection.

The day begins with coffee, puzzles and conversation. Then comes a structured exercise session developed by home care physiotherapists, followed by lunch, recreation programs and group physiotherapy sessions. Some program days feature musicians or guest presenters, while others are filled with games, laughter and stories.

“It’s a very filled day, with exercise and recreation programs, and then they go home after that,” says Shay. “Some clients come once a week, some come twice a week. It just depends.”

The team’s Mission Award nomination came from someone who knows the program inside and out — a long-time client who took it upon herself to gather feedback from fellow participants.

“She’s been here probably longer than [Shay’s] been here,” Siobhan Epp, the program’s unit clerk, says. “She has seen people come and go for different reasons. She knows we have clients that speak no English and that may need assistance with communication. She’s seen it all and seen us treat them all the same way every time.”

For the team, respect isn’t a strategy. It is second nature. “We respect their side,” says Giffthy De Juan, a health care aide with the program. “We always offer them good conversation so they feel better. We help them in a subtle way. They appreciate it, and they’re happy with what we do for them.”

Shay agrees. “It’s hard to think of one example of how we show respect because I feel like that is what we’re taught to do,” she says. “It’s just there. You’re supposed to provide respect even if it's not to clients, but to staff, to volunteers. But it was really fascinating to see the clients come up with examples of how they see us show respect. Sometimes the things that we don’t really notice was what actually made the nomination even more special.”

The impact of the program extends far beyond the clients themselves, says Siobhan. Families often express deep gratitude for the support, especially those who live out of province or care for loved ones at home.

“One daughter told me her mom’s doctor was so impressed by her mobility,” Siobhan says. “Yes, she’s declining, but she’s still able to get up and do things. She really enjoys it. The daughter was just so grateful that her mom is being taken care of and getting these resources.”

The program also provides a break for caregivers. “Families and their spouses are so thankful because it gives them respite while knowing the clients receive exercise to help their overall health — that’s probably one of the biggest impacts,” Shay says.

But what makes the program truly special is the bond between staff and clients. It’s not unusual for clients to ask about staff vacations or bring in photos of their own grandchildren.

Siobhan recalls the time she got engaged and the clients secretly made her a card. “They barely knew me. I think I’d been here a year and a half. But they were really thrilled that I was getting married and wrote me a card. It makes you want to stay around because they actually care about you.”

Even Giffthy’s bright orange shoes have become a source of joy. “They all have smiles on their face and get very excited seeing her coming,” Shay says. “They’ll wear sunglasses as a joke because (her shoes are) too bright.”

For those considering a career in health care, the team has simple advice: come with compassion, empathy and a willingness to connect.

“From the time we get here to the time we go home, we’re talking, we’re socializing. If you’re just here to be here, you will not enjoy it,” Shay says.

And for this team, the reward isn’t just in the recognition. It’s in the smiles, the stories, the shared moments and the knowledge that they’re helping people live fuller, more connected lives.

“I’m excited every day for my job,” says Giffthy. “To see all of them and to help them. I love my job.”