The Government of New Brunswick is moving forward with one of the first projects aimed at bringing 360 long-term care beds to the province. The government requested expressions of interest in establishing the beds and greenlit an upgrade in Riverview, N.B., according to a news release on Monday. As a result, Grass Home is set to receive 40 new generalist care beds from the government, adding to the 60 beds it currently has. They’re aimed at supporting seniors who have difficulty getting around and managing daily activities, like bathing, dressing and eating. Ben Grass, executive vice-president of Grass Home says the group is honoured to partner with the province to bring more beds to Riverview. “For more than four decades, our family has been committed to providing seniors with compassionate, home-like care that supports their dignity and quality of life,” he says in the release. Premier Susan Holt says the additions to Grass Home will give seniors in the area access to care closer to home, “while helping reduce pressure on our hospitals and ensuring people can move out of hospital and into the appropriate setting.” In March, CTV News reported roughly 37 per cent of N.B. hospital beds were occupied by patients who don’t need acute health care, but instead residential long-term care. New Brunswick has 7,635 licensed adult residential facility spaces in 422 homes, according to the province’s long-term care strategy. As of June 1, there were 1,138 New Brunswicker’s nursing home waitlist. Seniors Minister Lyne Chantal Boudreau says adding new beds will help build a stronger continuum of care for the province’s aging population. In 2024, people over 65-years-old made up about 23 per cent of New Brunswick’s total population. The province forecasts that number to climb to over 27.3 per cent by 2040, adding roughly 45,000 more older adults in a span of 15 years. The province says it’s still evaluating proposals and advancing projects under the Seniors and Long-Term Care plan, with the goal of “getting new beds operational as quickly as possible for those who need them.” The plan covers the 2026 to 2027 budget, representing an overall cost of $993 million to add more beds, increase hours of operation and workers’ wages, among other goals. For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.
