More nursing homes is just a small part of the puzzle to care for New Brunswick’s aging seniors.
That according to Jean Mowatt of the Senior Watch and Care-Ed Learning Centre in Saint John.
The New Brunswick government plans to build ten new 60-bed nursing homes around the province as part of its five-year nursing home plan and has already announced new homes in Florenceville-Bristol, Moncton, Saint John and southern Kent County.
Mowatt says the province’s commitment to build the nursing homes is good news, but they also need to work at those homes.
“We have a worker shortage, so that’s my immediate concern,” says Mowatt, “and that worker shortage mean that it’s got to involve pay equity.”
The Gallant government has set aside $12 million in the 2018-19 budget to increase wages for special care workers and home support workers to attract more people to the industry.
As for where these homes should be located, Mowatt says it doesn’t make a huge difference in the end.
“The province probably has people living in Saint John that maybe family are in Bathurst, they may want to take Mom home and then maybe they can find a bed there for them,” she says. “So, it doesn’t matter where those beds are, it’s going to fill a wonderful need.”
