New Brunswick’s Nursing Home Without Walls initiative has reached a new milestone as it welcomes its 31st location. Faubourg du Mascaret, a French retirement community in Moncton, recently became the latest addition to the program. The community includes two francophone nursing homes, Pavillon Landry and Pavillon Richard, operating under the Shannex umbrella.
Gillian Ferris, the vice president of operations for enhanced care at Shannex New Brunswick, emphasized the importance of understanding the needs of seniors in the community to enhance their quality of life. The program, spearheaded by Suzanne Dupuis-Blanchard from Université de Moncton, offers services to help older adults remain in their homes by providing home visits, social activities, and access to community resources. Originally launched in 2019 with four pilot locations, the initiative has now expanded to include 31 nursing homes across the province.
Dupuis-Blanchard expressed her delight at the positive impact of the program and its continuous growth, highlighting the support it provides to older adults and their families. The initiative has evolved from rural communities to urban centers like Moncton, Fredericton, and Saint John, addressing the isolation experienced by seniors in urban areas compared to their rural counterparts.
Minister Lyne Chantal Boudreau emphasized the importance of bilingualism in serving seniors in their preferred language within the program. With over 4,000 registered participants as of October, the initiative is set to expand beyond New Brunswick’s borders, with discussions underway to introduce it in five other provinces. The upcoming program expansions are scheduled to be announced starting in January 2026.