Expansion project in Fredericton to add 120 long-term care beds
Excavators have broken ground at Shannex’s Neill and Medley Halls on Fredericton’s north side, marking the beginning of a multimillion-dollar expansion project that will add 120 long-term care beds to the property.
“Our government believes that every New Brunswicker deserves to age with dignity, where they have the right support in place and the ability to make choices of how they live and where they live,” said Premier Susan Holt, who was in attendance alongside Seniors Minister Lyne Chantal Boudreau.
The Holt government has committed to adding 240 Shannex-operated nursing home beds within the next two years. This announcement will effectively cut that goal in half, as completion is anticipated for the summer of 2028.
Boudreau said it is important for seniors to have access to necessary care and supports.
“This project shows our commitment to providing them with safe, comfortable and welcoming spaces so they can feel well and keep a good quality of life,” said Boudreau.
Shannex president Jason Shannon was also present at the announcement. He says the team is focused on completing construction quickly to add long-term care bed capacity to meet the growing needs of older adults in the province.
“These nursing homes will be thoughtfully designed communities in Fredericton, with proven design innovations that ensure quality care, dignity and comfort for every resident,” said Shannon.
The expansion is the second announced by the Holt government after releasing their long-term care plan, Stronger Care for Seniors: A Long-Term Care Plan for New Brunswick, on March 26. The first began in Quispamsis on April 27.
The $993 million investment hopes to bring 624 new long-term care beds to the province to both provide better long-term care services but to also take immense pressure off hospitals that have individuals awaiting long-term care vacancies.
More information about the province’s long-term care plan strategy can be found here.
