Sheila Moore didn’t give much thought to her future living arrangements, but she had a clear preference. “If I have to go to a nursing home, fine, but I’d prefer not to,” she said. At 82 years old, her home in Fredericton is adorned with paintings, art, and photos of her loved ones, creating a comforting environment. Moore expressed the emotional attachment to her home, stating, “You don’t know what it’s like to have to leave your own home. It’s nice to be able to be in your own home with your own things.”
Determined to remain in her home, Moore joined the Nursing Home Without Walls Program in 2025. Through this program, she was matched with a wellness coordinator, Emmett Legare, who visits her for two to three hours every few weeks. Moore shared, “I feel he is like one of my family, and he’s always helpful to me and he sort of cheers up my day.” Currently, Moore and Legare are collaborating on building a dollhouse together.
The Nursing Home Without Walls initiative offers emotional and social support to clients at no cost. Operating from existing nursing homes, the program provides one-on-one visits, community activities, monthly educational sessions, access to an accessible bath service, a food bank, and caregiver support. Started in 2019 by Suzanne Dupuis-Blanchard in New Brunswick, the program has expanded to 36 nursing homes and has assisted 5,200 seniors to date, according to the Department of Social Development.
Recognizing the value of this program, the provincial government recently announced a $4 million investment to expand Nursing Home Without Walls as part of its long-term-care strategy. The aim is to enhance community support and services to enable seniors to age in place comfortably. Dupuis-Blanchard highlighted the importance of combating social isolation and loneliness in seniors, emphasizing that Nursing Home Without Walls addresses these critical aspects of aging in place.
The program’s long-term impact includes enabling older adults to age in their own homes while receiving social care and guidance in navigating the health-care system. By preventing or delaying unnecessary admissions to long-term care facilities, the program aims to alleviate the strain on the healthcare system. Candace Purcell, the manager of the program at York Care Home, clarified that Nursing Home Without Walls is not a direct replacement for nursing homes but aims to reduce premature admissions and support those who wish to remain in their homes.
Inspired by the success in New Brunswick, six provinces are planning to pilot Nursing Home Without Walls in their communities, with a national expansion anticipated to commence by March 2028. As the program continues to grow, its impact on seniors like Moore is evident, allowing them to maintain their independence and cherished lifestyle in the comfort of their own homes.
