Some New Brunswick nursing homes are now offering services to seniors still living at home.
A total of 14 homes have joined the government’s Nursing Homes Without Walls program.
The program provides improved access to health and social services for older adults living at home.
It began as a pilot project in 2019 and later expanded through the New Brunswick provincial health plan.
“Helping seniors remain at home and independent is a pillar of the provincial health plan,” Health Minister Bruce Fitch said in a news release.
“I am grateful for the hard work and dedication of the teams working together to help us reach this goal.”
Services offered through the program could include:
- Navigating and accessing other programs and services.
- Friendly check-in calls and in-person social visits.
- Transportation to medical appointments, grocery shopping and social outings using a nursing home’s minibus.
- Use of a nursing home’s bath facilities and specialized equipment.
- Intergenerational initiatives between students and seniors.
The program is supported through a partnership with Healthcare Excellence Canada and l’Université de Moncton’s Research Centre on Aging.
“The pilot project allowed many older adults to continue to age at home while having easy access to community support services and social health activities,” said Suzanne Dupuis-Blanchard, director of l’Université de Moncton’s Research Centre on Aging.
“I am proud to see this evidence-based program continue to grow in New Brunswick.”
Some of the homes are already offering support and services while others expect to begin in the coming months. It is expected another six will join the program by the end of this year.
The nursing homes currently participating in the program are:
- Manoir Edith B. Pinet (Paquetville)
- Westford Nursing Home (Port Elgin)
- Résidences Inkerman (Inkerman)
- Résidences Lucien Saindon (Lamèque)
- Loch Lomond Villa (Saint John)
- Résidences Mgr Chiasson (Shippagan)
- Foyer Saint-Antoine (Saint-Antoine)
- Victoria Glen Manor (Perth-Andover)
- Villa Beauséjour (Caraquet)
- Kiwanis Nursing Home (Sussex)
- Passamaquoddy Lodge (Saint Andrews)
- Dr. V.A. Snow Centre (Hampton)
- Shannex Embassy Hall, Shannex Tucker Hall, Shannex Cohen Hall (Quispamsis and Saint John)
- Shannex Losier Hall (Miramichi)
