A re-elected Liberal Government will build three new 60-bed nursing homes and add an additional 86 memory care beds as part of its last phase of its nursing home plan, announced Liberal Leader Brian Gallant. The new beds and homes would be spread across the following areas: Saint John/Kings/Charlotte, the Southeast, the Fredericton-River Valley, and the Greater Miramichi.

The three new 60-bed nursing homes and 86 new memory care beds are all part of the Gallant Government’s five-year Nursing Home Plan. Under this five-year plan, the provincial government will build 10 new 60-bed nursing homes totalling 600 new nursing home beds, it will add an additional 407 memory care beds, and it will invest over $100 million in renovations to existing homes. The regional allocation of these new resources was decided by the department of social development based on infrastructure needs, current wait times, and projected demand.

“I’m incredibly proud of the nursing home plan that was developed by our Liberal Government,” said Lisa Harris, the Minister Responsible for Aging and Long-Term Care. ” I was extremely disappointed when I heard yesterday that Blaine Higgs and the Conservatives are against this five-year nursing home plan. But I’m not surprised as Blaine Higgs’ plan is to cut investments in education, close hospitals, and stop our planned investments in nursing homes. Blaine Higgs owes an explanation to the communities that evidence shows need to receive a new nursing home or more memory care beds and to each of the residents in the existing nursing homes slated to receive renovations.”

Phases 1 and 2 of the Gallant Government’s nursing home plan included commitments to build 7 new nursing homes and to add 321 memory care beds in communities including:

• Southeast/Moncton, which is receiving 60 new memory care beds and a new 60-bed nursing home;
• Saint John region, which is receiving a new 60-bed nursing home;
• Charlotte County, which is receiving 18 new memory care beds;
• Madawaska region which is receiving 18 new memory care beds;
• Greater Miramichi region, which is receiving 36 new memory care beds;
• Acadian Peninsula, which is receiving 27 new memory care beds and a new 60-bed nursing home;
• Shediac, which will be receiving a 190-bed replacement;
• Kent County, which is receiving a new 60-bed nursing home;
• Southeast/Kent County, which is receiving 18 new memory care beds
• Restigouche region, which which is receiving 36 new memory care beds;
• Chaleur region, which is receiving 18 new memory care beds and a new 60-bed nursing home;
• Southwest Region, which is receiving 36 new memory care beds;
• Northern Carleton County, which is receiving a new 60-bed nursing home;
• Fredericton-River Valley, which is receiving 76 new nursing home beds;
• Capital and River Valley Area, which is receiving 54 new memory care beds.

The Gallant Government’s plan for nursing home construction and renovations is part of a broader provincial approach to aging. The Gallant Government, for example, has developed and is implementing a comprehensive Aging Strategy as well as a Home First Strategy to help keep seniors in their homes as long as possible. The latter includes the creation of new tax credits to allow seniors to renovate their homes, a new informal caregiver tax credit for those who care for aging family members, and investments in more affordable housing.

Providing access to quality health care in all corners of New Brunswick is one of the most important public services that government provides. Through record investments and an

overall budget increase of 9.8 percent since 2014, the Liberal Government has demonstrated its commitment to quality and accessible health care. Beyond making significant investments to health care infrastructure around the province, as well as committing to maintain services in rural areas, the Gallant Liberals have made other significant improvements to New Brunswick’s health care system:

• The hiring of over 300 new doctors, meaning over 90 net new doctors, bringing New Brunswick’s rate of access to family doctors up to 95 percent, the highest score in the country;
• The empowerment and addition of more health care professionals such as nurse practitioners, advanced care paramedics, and midwives;
• New and enhanced programs and services to help seniors stay in their homes longer;
• An investment of $75-million and a partnership with the federal government to create an aging pilot program in New Brunswick designed to improve the quality of life of seniors.