News Release

FREDERICTON (GNB) – The provincial government will invest $108 million over the next five years for renovations to nursing homes across the province.

“Our five-year nursing home plan and our multi-year aging strategy provide us with the framework to make sure our seniors have the best possible quality of life,” said Seniors and Long-Term Care Minister Lisa Harris. “Making investments to extend the service life of our nursing homes will help us as we improve senior care here in New Brunswick and create jobs.”

Pine Grove Nursing Home in Fredericton will receive $3.8 million in renovation funding. This follows similar announcements for nursing homes in Saint-Antoine and Port Elgin.

The 2018-2023 Nursing Home Plan, which will be carried out in three phases, involves building ten 60-bed nursing homes around the province.

An additional 407 beds for people living with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia will be provided in special care homes provincewide.

The 2018-19 provincial budget contains a number of investments and strategies intended to benefit seniors and their caregivers, such as:

• $12 million to increase wages for special care workers and home support workers.
• $1.25 million for a pilot project to help free up acute-care beds.
• $2.1 million for a wage supplement program focused on seniors, to encourage companies to hire seniors.
• $800,000 to begin implementing the New Brunswick Aging Strategy.
• $11.3 million for a program to support informal caregivers.
• $2.1 million in additional funding for specialized beds for people with advanced dementia.

These initiatives are in addition to other programs for seniors, such as the Home First strategy, the Seniors Health, Well-Being and Home Safety Review, wellness clinics and the Age-Friendly Communities Recognition Program, as well as other investments in senior care, such as affordable housing and home care.

Fostering healthy aging and support for seniors is one of the seven priority areas outlined in the New Brunswick Family Plan framework, which also focuses government action on: improving access to primary and acute care; promoting wellness; supporting people with addictions and mental health challenges; advancing women’s equality; reducing poverty and providing support for people living with a disability.