N.B. seniors initiative expanding across Canada

New Brunswick’s Nursing Home Without Walls program is getting attention from other provinces.

A program that offers services to seniors who want to stay in their own homes is coming to a 20-bed nursing home in Dieppe and is expanding across Canada.

The province announced Friday morning that Foyer Notre-Dame du Sacré-Cœur is joining the Nursing Home Without Walls (NHWW) program.

The program, started by Université de Moncton professor Suzanne Dupuis-Blanchard, involves activities like in-person social visits, accessing government programs and services, and activities designed to reduce isolation through building social connections.

Lyne Chantal Boudreau, minister responsible for seniors, said in a news release giving seniors the independence to stay living at home is the main goal of NHWW.

“I’m so pleased and grateful that these essential services will be offered to the Dieppe community through our continued partnership with Foyer Notre-Dame du Sacré-Cœur,” said Boudreau.

There are currently 27 Nursing Home Without Walls sites across New Brunswick and the initiative is attracting nationwide attention.

“We have secured funding to pilot, or test the model in other provinces,” said Dupuis-Blanchard. “That’s actually happening right now. We already have letters of interest from several groups in different provinces across Canada that are ready to test Nursing Home Without Walls and we’re moving forward in the next while.”

Services that will be available at Foyer Notre-Dame du Sacré-Cœur in Dieppe include:

• educational sessions
• access to information and support services
• wellness check-ins
• support for caregivers
• transportation

“This program is wonderful here in New Brunswick and more than that, there’s so many provinces across Canada,” said Boudreau. “They want to do the same thing in their area.”

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