Province Adding More Temporary Long-Term Care Rooms

The government is taking action to expand the number of long-term care rooms and provide more seniors with the care they need, faster.

Renovations are expected to begin in the coming weeks on the former Villa Acadienne long-term care home in Meteghan, Digby County, resulting in new single rooms for 47 more seniors.

“Work continues on the construction of 3,500 new and replacement rooms across the province,” said Barbara Adams, Minister of Seniors and Long-Term Care. “While this work continues, we need to look at how we can extend the life of our available infrastructure so we can help more seniors in this province get the care they need, faster.”

The facility was formerly home to 86 residents. It was recently replaced with a new 96-room long-term care home, also named Villa Acadienne, leaving the older building vacant. Facility upgrades will provide improved infection control.

Renovations will take place in two phases, with 28 rooms expected to open later this winter and an additional 19 rooms in the spring.

These temporary rooms will support seniors in need of long-term care while work on new and replacement facilities in the area continues. Beyond the newly opened Villa Acadienne, eight other facilities in the area have been identified for replacement. When complete, these homes will add 60 new single rooms to the total number of long-term care spaces in the area. All are expected to open by 2027.

Quick Facts:

• recruitment of needed staff to provide care and operations will begin this month
• the upgraded facility will be run by the same board, management and administration as the newly opened Villa Acadienne

Additional Resources:

News Release – First Long-Term Care Replacement Home Opens: https://novascotia.ca/news/release/?id=20230929006

News Release – Construction Beginning on Long-term Care Homes in Central Zone; https://novascotia.ca/news/release/?id=20230517001

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

Action for Health, the government’s strategic plan to improve healthcare in Nova Scotia: 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