Protecting the health, safety and well-being of nursing home residents is a priority for the Government of New Brunswick.
Inspections are conducted to ensure the nursing homes comply with regulatory requirements. Refer to the Standards Manual and the Nursing Home Act, Regulation 85-187, Regulation 2001-59 and Regulation 2009-75.
Nursing homes are inspected every year by the Regional Liaison Officers who are employees of the Department of Social Development. These inspections are unannounced and usually take two days to complete. Besides the annual inspection, if there are reasons to believe that there are issues or concerns related to the health or safety of residents, other visits may be made at any time or follow up to evaluate the situation and take appropriate action.
Nursing homes are inspected based on the following categories:
- Administration: This category addresses how well the overall administration and management of a nursing home is carried out. The nursing home must meet the requirements established for items such as admissions, services provided, policies, records, financial resources and license.
- Resident Services: This category addresses how well the facility renders services for the residents. The nursing home must meet the requirements established for items such as care staff, care planning, resident care, medication management, physician services, food services, nutrition, and activation/rehabilitation.
- Human resources: This category addresses how well the facility ensures that staff employed at the facility is appropriately trained, properly licensed and skilled to perform the tasks assigned. The nursing home must ensure that there is a sufficient number of qualified and appropriately prepared staff to provide the services and programs offered by the nursing home.
- Environment: This category addresses how well the facility maintains the resident environment to protect the health and safety of residents, staff and the public. The nursing home must ensure that the building, equipment and surroundings are maintained in accordance with established requirements.
Inspections are also conducted by the Department of Public Safety inspection services, including the Office of the Fire Marshal, and the Department of Health Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health (Public Health). These inspections are conducted annually and must be kept up-to-date prior to the issuance or the renewal of a license.