News release

Construction Beginning on Long-Term Care Homes in Central Zone

Seniors and Long-Term Care
Long-Term Care Facilities

Construction is beginning on the development of six long-term care homes in Halifax-area communities.

The facilities, which are scheduled to open in 2025, will provide new living spaces for 720 seniors in need of long-term care.

“Seniors in our province deserve to have the peace of mind in knowing they will have a place to go to, if or when they need long-term care,” said Barbara Adams, Minister of Seniors and Long-Term Care. “These new living spaces will help shorten waitlists and, more importantly, they will give our seniors the opportunity to live in dignity and comfort."

The facilities include:

  • a 96-room facility on Westwood Boulevard, Tantallon, operated by Gem Healthcare;
  • a 144-room facility on Cole Harbour Road, Dartmouth, operated by Gem Healthcare;
  • a 48-room facility on Gary Martin Drive, Bedford, operated by Northwoodcare;
  • a 144-room facility on Cobequid Road, Lower Sackville, operated by Rosecrest Communities;
  • a 144-room facility in Opal Ridge Subdivision, Dartmouth, operated by Shannex; and
  • a 144-room facility on Starboard Drive, Bedford, operated by Shannex.

Negotiations are underway for a seventh long-term care facility in the Halifax area, which is expected to add about 90 more single living spaces for seniors in need of long-term care.

A replacement facility for Northwood in Fall River is also moving forward, with the site selection now complete. A replacement facility is also planned for the Birches in Musquodobit Harbour and is expected to open in 2025. Other replacement facilities in the Central Zone include Melville Lodge in Halifax and Dykeland Lodge in Windsor.

These builds are among 34 new and replacement facilities planned across the province, all of which are expected to open by 2027. Updates will continue to be provided as these projects advance. Collectively, these builds will add about 1,200 new long-term care rooms and replace another 2,300 rooms.

Providing the care Nova Scotians need and deserve is a key solution in Action for Health, the government’s strategic plan to improve healthcare in Nova Scotia.

Quotes:

“It’s important that proper care and supports are in place to meet the needs of aging Nova Scotians today and into the future. We are so pleased to see these new builds moving forward in HRM. They will make a significant difference in the lives of people needing long-term care and their families who can now have the confidence they need that the right care is there for them.”

– Ron Swan, chair of the Seniors’ Advisory Council of Nova Scotia

Quick Facts:

  • a request for qualified suppliers to build about 800 new long-term care rooms in Central Zone was awarded in January
  • each new long-term care room will be for one person and includes a private bathroom
  • operating costs for each new long-term care room will be about $140,000 annually
  • about 8,000 Nova Scotians live in a long-term care facility
  • almost 22 per cent of Nova Scotia’s population is 65 and older, the third-highest percentage in the country; this is expected to grow to about 25 per cent by 2032
  • the new rooms will help meet the care needs of aging Nova Scotians and free up hospital beds for surgeries and other medical treatments. Currently, about 290 people are in hospital waiting for placement in long-term care

Additional Resources:

News Release – Province Building More Long-Term Care Rooms: https://novascotia.ca/news/release/?id=20230111001

Action for Health, the government’s plan for transforming the healthcare system: https://novascotia.ca/actionforhealth

Mandate letter of the Minister of Seniors and Long-Term Care: https://novascotia.ca/exec_council/letters-2021/ministerial-mandate-letter-2021-SLTC.pdf

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