Nova Scotia government opens eighth new long-term care home, on track for six more by April

**BEDFORD, N.S.** — The Nova Scotia government has opened its eighth new long-term care facility, bringing the province past the halfway mark of its short-term target to open 14 new homes by next April.

Residents and staff gathered Tuesday for the grand opening of Adeline Hall in Bedford, marking the eighth facility to open since the government established its targets in December 2022.

Located on Huntley Drive near the Larry Uteck rotary and the Hemlock Square retail area, Adeline Hall features 144 single-resident rooms, each with a private washroom. The facility is operated by Shannex.

Approximately 80 seniors have already moved into the home, which held a ribbon-cutting ceremony and ice cream social on Tuesday.

“It didn’t take very long to feel settled,” resident AnnMarie McAleenan said in a news release. “I feel very grateful to be here because I need help, and I feel safe. The team members are all very kind.”

According to a provincial news release, the facility includes a main street area for activities and socializing, a hair salon, an occupational and physiotherapy area, an overnight family suite, and outdoor areas. Residents live in small neighbourhoods comprising 16 people each.

“The opening of Adeline Hall represents our continued commitment to providing older adults with safe, comfortable and supportive places to call home,” Jason Shannon, president of Shannex, said in a news release.

Minister of Seniors and Long-Term Care Barbara Adams stated that the opening marks a significant milestone in the province’s expansion of long-term care.

“Every new home represents more than bricks and mortar,” Adams said in a statement Wednesday. “It represents dignity, comfort, safety, and peace of mind for hundreds of Nova Scotians and their families.”

Adeline Hall contributes to the provincial government’s broader objective of creating 5,700 new single rooms by 2032 across 53 new homes. Including Adeline Hall, more than 1,300 new rooms have opened at facilities across the province, including:
* Villa Acadienne in Meteghan
* Kiknu Long-Term Care Home in Eskasoni
* Mahone Bay Nursing Home
* Moody Hall in Bedford
* Opal Ridge Hall in Dartmouth
* Carefield Manor in Dominion
* Rosecrest The Meadows in Lower Sackville

Nineteen additional projects are currently underway across Nova Scotia. Six of those facilities are expected to be completed by March 31, 2027, adding another 2,000 rooms.

While welcoming the new infrastructure, opposition critics raised concerns regarding staffing levels. Halifax-Armdale MLA Rod Wilson, the Nova Scotia NDP spokesperson for seniors and long-term care, emphasized that new capacity must be supported by adequate personnel.

“Building more nursing homes in Nova Scotia is vital, especially for the growing list of seniors waiting for a spot,” Wilson said in a statement Friday. “At the same time, there are still staffing shortages that have to be addressed, and new beds are only useful if we have the front-line health-care workers in place to provide care.”

Wilson called on the government to detail its plans for training, recruiting, and retaining health-care staff to ensure the new facilities are fully operational.

The long-term care expansion is a key pillar of the province’s Action for Health plan, introduced nearly four years ago. The strategic platform also focuses on reducing health-care wait times, improving emergency services, and expanding mental health and addiction care.

Article and image source: saltwire.com