Thorpe Recovery Centre has reopened admissions for their addictions treatment programs with more services planned to open in the near future.
“We have begun taking in clients again for residential programming only and our plan is next Monday to open up our detox unit as well,” says CEO Teressa Krueckl.
The six week program has patients participate in lectures, assignments, chores, group therapy and individual sessions with a counsellor. The program can be extended to 90 days if deemed necessary.
The centre has added more precautions to keep staff and patients safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We’ve laid out some restrictions ensuring they have someone here safe with them until we can ensure that they’re healthy to enter into the centre.”
More screening has been implemented at their facility for both staff and patients. Before going through the regular admission process, patients will have to complete a COVID-19 questionnaire.
Krueckl notes there is a lot of space at the facility and they are able to stay within the provincial health guidelines and physical distancing rules. Dorm rooms are large enough for two people but they are keeping them to one client per room as a precaution.
“We have single occupancy rooms and have created proper spacing even in our meeting area. We’ve started to do a lot of zoom meetings even within the facility.”
For some of their other programs, the centre has implemented more virtual meetings. The in-house Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous groups are being done online or through other means.
The centre has also been able to keep their continuing care program running as well. Staff at the facility keep in contact online and help patients reintegrate back into society once they’ve completed the residential program.
“We’ve always done that on a web-basis and we’re still able to provide that.”
Krueckl says staff and patients have been extraordinary in adapting to the new normal at the facility.
“Early on there was a lot of fear. We’re learning to grow within and we’ve had some real champions. For the first couple of weeks, I would like to say our staff was incredibly agile. They were flexible and I really appreciate the precautions in place.”
Krueckl mentions those still in the program are excited to share their recovery journey with new people entering the program for the first time.
The centre received provincial funding from Alberta in February to expand their services and hire more staff. Krueckl says the hiring process is still ongoing throughout the pandemic.
“Recovery doesn’t stop. We consider ourselves an essential service as well and we’re looking to continue to do what we do, help people in their recovery.”