New Brunswick expands senior care program to rural community

The New Brunswick government expanded the Nursing Home Without Walls program to the River Road Hub in the Brown Flat area of the Fundy Rural District.

This initiative provides nursing home-style support, including medical assistance, shared meals, and exercise, to seniors who prefer to remain in their own homes. The program, supported by the Rocmaura Nursing Home in Saint John, currently serves about 45 participants.

A team of five staff members, including a kinesiologist and a nursing graduate, helps seniors stay active and socialize. Health Minister John Dornan stated that providing these services can prevent seniors from requiring hospital stays by addressing needs like nutrition and social interaction. The River Road Hub is the 38th site for the initiative across the province. While the program currently hosts 45 people, organizers expect the site to eventually accommodate up to 200 participants.

Since the program began in 2019, more than 7,700 seniors have used the service.