FREDERICTON (GNB) – The provincial government announced today the creation of 704 specialized care beds and 354 nursing home beds.
Social Development Minister Sue Stultz, who is also minister responsible for seniors, housing and community non-profit organizations, made the announcement while releasing a review of the nursing home replacement and renovation plan released in December 2009.
"Creating hundreds more specialized care beds will enable more seniors to move from hospitals into long-term care," said Stultz. "These beds will help alleviate waiting lists and meet the needs of seniors who do not need full-time nursing care."
The review was based on a three-step process that consisted of a demographic analysis of the aging population during the next 10 years; a facility condition assessment; and a review of design standards.
The demographic analysis showed the demand for long-term care services is greatest in Greater Moncton, followed by the Saint John and Fredericton regions. There is also an overall growing need for services for seniors with Alzheimer's disease and dementia.
Specialized care beds
Based on the review, 704 specialized care beds will be created during the next five years. These beds, to be created by the private sector, will be specifically designed to care for persons with Alzheimer's disease and dementia.
The provincial government plans to work closely with current and new operators to support the creation of these beds. As more Alzheimer's and dementia clients are identified on the wait list, the number of facilities offering these services will increase accordingly. Current and future operators will have the opportunity to participate in providing the service.
"This type of facility has the dual advantage of being a more appropriate residential environment for residents and families while being a less costly alternative to a nursing home setting," Stultz said.
Efficiencies, savings found
The review identified $110 million in efficiencies and savings in nursing home construction.
"We will proceed with a nursing home renovation and replacement plan at an estimated cost of $329 million,” said Stultz. "Our review has produced substantial savings for taxpayers while meeting the needs of our seniors and the long-term care system. This is an outstanding accomplishment on both fronts."
Because of its serious financial challenges, the provincial government undertook an analysis of the cost projections of the nursing home plan. Major construction projects were placed under review, including 11 replacements, two new nursing homes and five major additions. Five major projects and another $44 million for capital renewal and repair projects within the plan were approved. This work is already underway.
"We are helping New Brunswickers take care of their families by investing and making improvements in infrastructure and services for seniors," Stultz said. "Our government took the nursing home plan in hand in the best interest of taxpayers of New Brunswick to make sure the long-term care services we need for our aging population are delivered in the right place at the right time and with costs we can afford."
The original nursing home replacement and renovation plan proposed the addition of 297 beds at an estimated cost of $400 million, which grew to $439 million due to increased construction costs and design standards. Stultz announced the following revisions to the plan based on the review:
● 354 new nursing home beds will be created – 57 more than planned;
● Mill Cove Nursing Home will be replaced with a new 65-bed facility;
● Victoria Glen Manor in Perth-Andover will be replaced with a new 60-bed facility;
● Villa Maria in Saint Louis-de-Kent will be replaced with a new 60-bed facility;
● Central New Brunswick Nursing Home in Boiestown will be replaced with a new 30-bed facility;
● Dalhousie Nursing Home will undergo $2.2 million in life safety related repairs, including exterior repairs, doors and windows replacement; slab and flooring repairs; upgrades to roof drainage; and upgrades to plumbing, ventilation and electrical systems. The generator and the nurse call system will be replaced;
● Mount Saint Joseph Nursing Home in Miramichi will undergo $8.2 million in life safety related repairs, including exterior repairs; doors and windows replacement; upgrades to fire protection, plumbing and ventilation; and replacement of the generator, fire alarm, lighting and nurse call systems. These projects are in addition to the major floor slab remediation in the main kitchen undertaken in 2010 at a cost of $875,215;
● a new 30-bed facility in Neguac will proceed as planned;
● Phase 2 of Loch Lomond Villa will proceed with 90 beds;
● two new 60-bed nursing homes will be built in Greater Moncton;
● Villa Du Repos in Moncton will be expanded to include 60 new beds;
● Carleton Manor in Woodstock will be expanded to include 30 new beds;
● a new 30-bed nursing home will be built in the Fredericton region;
● Kiwanis Nursing Home in Sussex will undergo a 30-bed expansion; and
● Passamaquoddy Lodge in Saint Andrews will continue with capital renewal and repair projects at a cost of $700,000.
Five nursing home replacement projects within the plan were granted earlier approval to proceed:
● Loch Lomond Villa in Saint John (Phase 1);
● Nashwaak Villa in Stanley;
● Les Résidences Jodin in Edmundston;
● Foyer Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes in Bathurst; and
● Grand Manan Nursing Home.
With the review complete, design and construction will take place on the remaining projects. They are to be completed by 2015-16.
Projects will be funded through bank loans to individual nursing homes as authorized by the Department of Social Development. Cost recovery for new and upgraded facilities will be calculated into the provincial funding provided to nursing home services each year.
The provincial government does not own nursing homes. It funds 80 per cent of nursing home operations in New Brunswick, totalling more than $288 million annually.
During the review, savings were found in construction as they relate to changes in house size; design template versus custom design; space reductions in non-residential areas; and construction materials.
New nursing homes will still be designed as high-performance buildings. The incoming Department of Transportation and Infrastructure, which will be assuming some of the functions of the outgoing department of supply and services, will ensure the nursing homes are built to high performance building best practices consistent with the provincial government's green building policy.
The Department of Transportation and Infrastructure will also take over the management of nursing home design and construction for the remaining replacement projects awaiting start-up. This will reduce overall costs for projects previously managed by individual nursing home boards.
Future review of nursing homes
New Brunswick has the second-largest proportion of seniors in Canada and the number of seniors in New Brunswick is expected to double during the next 20 years.
"As our aging population continues to grow and the demand for nursing home care continues, nursing home infrastructure will continue to be reviewed," said Stultz.
The following nursing homes will be reviewed next:
● Foyer Saint-Antoine in Saint-Antoine;
● Kennebec Manor Inc. in Saint John;
● White Rapids Manor in Fredericton Junction;
● Manoir Edith B. Pinet in Paquetville; and,
● Les Résidences Lucien Saindon in Lamèque.
The review is to determine if these facilities need replacement or renovations or are safe in their current condition.
LINK:
● Department of Social Development: www.gnb.ca/socialdevelopment
15-03-12
