FREDERICTON (GNB) – The Department of Social Development is launching a request for proposals for the development and operation of a new 60-bed nursing home in the northeast region of the province.
“This government is committed to providing the right kind of care at the right time,” said Social Development Minister Bruce Fitch. “The development of this project is a priority to address the need for nursing home beds in the area.”
The new nursing home will be built in the Acadian Peninsula. The project is part of Phase 2 of the 2018-2023 Nursing Home Plan which has the objective to address two primary issues: aging infrastructure and the need for additional beds.
“The Nursing Home Plan was developed following an in-depth assessment of a demographic projection review, current nursing home facility condition assessments, and a review of design standards for new nursing homes,” said Fitch. “It included a plan for over 1,000 new beds including both nursing home and memory care beds.”
Construction of the new nursing home could begin as early this fall and open in 2023.
There are currently 70 licensed nursing homes across the province which contain a total of 4,925 nursing home beds.
“Those entering nursing homes today have greater needs than in the past,” said Fitch. “Increasingly, long-term care facilities are designed to accommodate residents with severe cognitive and physical frailties who require a special focus on the physical environment for their quality of life. Modern nursing homes are meant to be like a home away from home.”
The Department of Social Development works to ensure high-quality, long-term care services while encouraging independent living through a range of community-based services. Over $556 million is invested annually to provide long-term care services and assistance to seniors in the province, including to residents of adult residential facilities, nursing homes, and recipients of home care.
25-02-21