Nursing home review yields $5.7M in savings

An internal review found $5.7-million worth of savings from three proposed nursing home projects, Social Development Minister Sue Stultz said Wednesday.

The provincial government launched the review of its nursing home projects as a part of Finance Minister Blaine Higgs's demand for all departments to curtail spending.

Stultz said the review was intended to guarantee the nursing home projects were "proceeding in the most cost-effective way possible."

"I am pleased that we have been able to achieve savings for government and, in turn, for the people of New Brunswick," Stultz said in a statement.

"These savings were found without affecting the long-term durability of the projects or the quality of care for the residents."

The review examined three nursing homes:

• Nashwaak Villa in Stanley
• Foyer Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes in the Nepisiguit/Chaleur region
• Les Résidences Jodin in Edmundston

A review is continuing on other proposed nursing home projects.

All other nursing home projects will face a three-step process that will include a review of whether renovation is an option opposed to replacement. 

As well, an analysis will also be done on the medium- and long-term demographic shifts of the surrounding area and the construction and operating standards of the planned nursing homes will also be reviewed.

A similar review was done of the Loch Lomond Villa Nursing Home in Saint John in February.

The provincial government said it saved $250,000 by trimming the budget on construction and furnishings. The department indicated that patient care would not be affected by the cuts.