Community of Health and Creativity at St. Jó's Centre for Wellbeing

St. Joseph's Hospital flourishes in a new role

St. Jó's Quality of Life Centre rapidly approaching the historic and momentous milestone of filling every floor and every space in the old St. Joseph's Hospital with activities related to health, quality of life and creativity. Sixteen businesses and organisations have now made their home in the centre and are already beginning to offer services designed to enhance the well-being and health of people of all ages. More will be joining in the coming days and weeks. On the first of May, a celebration was held and the building was specially opened to mark the opening of a new floor and the welcome of new businesses and organisations. Work is underway in the basement and the chapel. Otherwise, the building is fully complete and all spaces are already fully occupied.

^{Mayor Rósa Guðbjartsdóttir said a few well-chosen words at the start of the celebration at St. Jó's Centre for Quality of Life on the first day of summer.}   

„As soon as the town acquired St. Joseph's Hospital just over five years ago, a process of idea generation began, followed by construction work which is now delivering a centre for well-being and a community of businesses providing a diverse range of health-related services for all age groups to Hafnarfjörður. This beautiful and historic building of ours, belonging to the people of Hafnarfjörður, has regained its former splendour and prestige and is once again filled with life and good activity,“ says Rósa Guðbjartsdóttir, mayor of Hafnarfjörður. A large number of visitors came to the site on the first of May. The house has been restored as close as possible to its original appearance, with French windows and beautiful wooden doors.

^{A number of guests visited the centre on the first day of summer and were introduced to the services of those based in the house.} 

The town acquired the hospital in the summer of 2017.

The Municipality of Hafnarfjörður acquired St. Joseph's Hospital in the summer of 2017 and simultaneously committed to operating a public service in the property for a minimum of 15 years from the signing of the agreement, and to commence operations in the property within 3 years of signing the agreement. Two years after the signing of the agreement, on 5 September 2019, the building's 92nd anniversary, it was formally opened as a centre for quality of life, and fifteen businesses moved in. Now, almost five years later, all floors, with the exception of the basement and the chapel, are in full use. 

^{St. Jó's premises has been undergoing a renovation, as can be seen.} 

The former St. Joseph's Hospital is a stately building in the heart of Hafnarfjörður, a former four-storey hospital with a chapel. The building covers 2,829 m² and was constructed in 1926, 1973 and 2006. The building stands on a 4,467.2 m² freehold plot of land, which is designated as a community service site. The purchase price was 100 million króna and the property was handed over on 15 August 2017. Over these nearly five years, this beautiful and historic building has undergone extensive renovations and is now bustling with activity, as various organisations, businesses and individuals carry out a diverse range of activities, all with the aim of improving people's quality of life. Recently, the Benevolent and Relief Fund of the Order of Odd Fellows in Iceland handed over a 530-square-metre premises on the 3rd floor to the Alzheimer's Association and the Parkinson's Association for use by the organisations.

A brief timeline of St. Jó

• The year 1922 – The Catholic congregation purchased the Jófríðarstaðir estate in Hafnarfjörður with the aim of building a hospital and a primary school there. The purpose of the hospital's construction was to serve those living in Hafnarfjörður and the surrounding area, right up to the South-West.
• The year 1924 – construction of the hospital began. The building was designed by the state architect, Guðjón Samúelsson. Its construction was overseen by the building master, Ásgeir G. Stefánsson.
• The year 1926 (5 September) – St. Joseph's Hospital was consecrated in a grand ceremony. Dr Bjarni Snæbjörnsson was appointed to the staff; he was the hospital's chief surgeon and medical director for around 30 years.
• The year 1926 – St. Joseph's Sisters' Hospital opened. It had a surgical and medical ward, as well as X-ray and light therapy.
• The year 1987 – The Sisters of St. Joseph sold the hospital and ceased all involvement in its day-to-day operations. The purchasers were the State Treasury (85%) and the Municipality of Hafnarfjörður (15%). With the change of ownership, the operating model changed from a non-profit foundation to a municipal hospital, as defined by law.
• The year 2000 – a new entrance built at the hospital
• In 2006 – St. Joseph's Hospital and the Sólvangur Nursing Home merged into a single institution.
• The year 2011 St. Joseph's Hospital closed for good after 85 years of operation
• Year 2017 (June) – The Municipality of Hafnarfjörður acquires St. Joseph's Hospital after over two years of talks with the government. The house had stood empty and in disrepair since 2011. A working group on future use was appointed.
• 2017 (August) – Open house for all interested parties. A tour of the house and idea gathering
• October 2017 – A special working group submits proposals on the future use of St. Joseph's Hospital. It has been proposed that St. Jó become a quality of life centre with a focus on health, community and creativity.
• The year 2018 – Seeking interested parties to establish a business in St. Joseph's Hospital
• 2019 (May) – 10 companies sign an agreement for premises and operations in a new quality of life centre, and the first companies move in. The St. Jó Society will be formed
• 2019 (July) – The Hafnarfjörður Theatre Society is to receive the chapel at St. Jó for temporary, gratuitous use. The contract was valid until July 2020.
• 2019 (5 September) – Formal opening ceremony and open house at the new St. Jó's Wellbeing Centre.
• 2020 (summer) – Exterior works completed, accessibility improved and the handrail in the internal stairwell repaired.
• In 2021 (April) – Agreement on works on the 3rd floor of St. Jó. The Oddfellows' Benevolent and Relief Fund (StLO) and the City of Hafnarfjörður enter into an agreement regarding the construction of day centres for the Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Associations.
• 2022 (April) – The Alzheimer's Association and the Parkinson's Association are being handed a 530-square-metre property on the 3rd floor of St. Jó for use in their activities.
• 2022 (April) – formal opening of more floors and celebrating the arrival of more companies

The history of St. Jó can be found on the St. Jó Quality of Life Centre website.

Service providers at St. Jó's Wellbeing Centre

The following companies and organisations now have premises at the St. Jó Wellbeing Centre. and offer a variety of services and treatments that enhance the quality of life of their clients. Service providers offering conventional and unconventional treatments at the St. Jó Quality of Life Centre have recognised qualifications and a professional licence, where applicable. In the coming weeks and months, more providers will be added to the team. Operations are scheduled to begin on the first floor in early August 2022.

• The Alzheimer's Society: Working on advocacy for people with dementia through support, advice and education.
• Centre for Academic EnthusiasmOffers coaching for all, sex coaching and prevention talks.
• Leg-wrestling: Podiatrics clinic run by Guðríður Harðardóttir, Podiatrist.
• Hand in hand: Provides comprehensive family counselling and therapy, with a focus on communication within the couple and the family. Specialises in working with expectant parents and couples, drawing on attachment theory and couples therapy.
• Occupational therapy Home strengthOffers consultancy, training and education for individuals of all ages, businesses, voluntary organisations, local authorities and institutions. It employs occupational therapist Guðrún Jóhanna Hallgrímsdóttir, who has extensive knowledge and experience within social and healthcare services.
• Janus Health Promotion: Janus Health Promotion is a consultancy and service company that works to improve the health and quality of life of older people.
• Lex familia: Family therapy to address a variety of problems that can arise within families or for individuals, together with legal assistance in family law when dealing with various contentious issues that can occur in people's relationships.
• The position: Málstöðin is a speech and language therapy practice offering assessment, advice and training for speech and language disorders. Ragnheiður Dagný Bjarnadóttir, a speech and language therapist, is the owner of Málstöðin.
• Miro Coaching and ConsultingProvides ADHD, autism spectrum, and family coaching, along with developmental coaching, counselling, and education for local authorities and businesses.
• Parkinson's Association of Iceland: The role of the Parkinson's Association is to assist patients and their families with the problems and difficulties that accompany the disease.
• Sen Consulting: Specialising in counselling, school avoidance, coaching and education for children, young people, adults, families and groups, as well as mediation in custody and contact matters, divorce cases and other disputes that may arise within families.
• Centre for Grief SupportThe Bereavement Centre provides education and counselling to bereaved people and those who work for their welfare.
• Forest Heart: A holistic therapy centre offering body-centred psychotherapy and trauma therapy, along with craniosacral therapy.
• Related: At Tengslamati, Ragnheiður Björg Guðmundsdóttir, a social worker, family scholar and PhD student at the University of Iceland, works. She, among other things, runs courses for professionals who work with children.
• The Yoga House: Offers Kundalini yoga, Yoga Nidra, one-off meditation courses, yoga for anxiety, stress and burnout, as well as private sessions in yoga and relaxation.
• Microphone: A start-up company that develops devices for scientists in health research.