The growing number of New Brunswickers looking for a place to stay long term careProvince helped open a new 60-bed nursing home At the north end of St. John’s.
The privatized home is one of five set to open by 2023 and 2024, with the province having no plans to build its own in the near future.
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In an emailed statement to Global News, the office of Social Development Minister Dorothy Shepard said there were 811 people on nursing home waiting lists in the province last month, with 150 new residents arriving monthly.
The Coalition for Seniors and Nursing Home Residents’ Rights estimates that about 500 waiting list residents are living at the New Brunswick hospital.
The Department of Social Development said the need “continues to grow,” while Sheppard said the province would continue to look to its older model to relieve some of the pressure.
“There are currently 72 nursing homes operating with a total of 5,013 beds,” Shepard said at a news conference on Monday.
“We plan to add to this number 81 nursing homes and 521 beds in the nursing home network.”
He said requests for proposals have already been earmarked for Bathurst, Moncton, Oromocto and Boctoche in anticipation of building the network.
bed already booked
Shanex, the group that runs the nursing home, said the first residents were ready to move in within 24 hours of the ribbon-cutting and noted that most, if not all, of the beds were already spoken for.
Most of the beds went to those on the priority list, taken mainly from those who had been in a hospital in the province.
Many of the new facility’s rooms have a single bed with attached bathroom. The facility is adjoined by other “neighborhoods”, primarily manufactured units with kitchens and living spaces in each room. The group noted that over time, residents will eventually transition from the assisted living facility to the new units.
“We are confident that when the first residents walk through the doors of Cohen Hall, they will find a home where they will have the support they need to live to the fullest,” Jason Shannon, Shenex President, said in a release.
“They will be surrounded by compassionate and professional team members who care deeply for them.”
With files from The Canadian Press
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