Further changes to Nursing Home Act regulations

Release

Department of Social Development

September 26, 2025

FREDERICTON (GNB) – The government has made further changes to regulations under the Nursing Home Act to improve management of the nursing home wait-list.

“We made these changes to put New Brunswickers and their personal preferences first,” said Social Development Minister Cindy Miles. “We know how important it is that seniors waiting for nursing home placements have their choice of home represented accurately on the wait-list – to get the care they need while staying closer to their communities.”

One change eliminates the previous requirement that prospective nursing home residents select two nursing homes as their preference. They must now select one as their preference, and may select as many others as they like, but all choices will be considered as equal preference.

The other change affects the consequences of people twice refusing an offer to any of their preferred nursing homes. Until now, a person who refused a placement was moved to the bottom of the wait-list. Effective today, a person who makes one refusal may keep his or her place on the list and await a second placement offer. A person who refuses the second offer is taken off the list and must wait 12 weeks before reapplying.

There are two exceptions to the new second-refusal rule. Prospective nursing home residents will not be removed from the wait-list if they refuse an interim placement or are waiting in hospital. A person who refuses a nursing home offer twice while in hospital – or refuses an interim offer – will not lose his or her place on the wait-list and will continue to receive offers.

These changes are meant to ensure a person's preferences are accurately reflected on the nursing home wait-list and that anyone going onto the list is ready for that transition.

Social Development clients currently on the wait-list have been contacted to update their preferences and to be informed about the new policy regarding second refusals.

“We know that seniors waiting for long-term care placements want the best possible options for living and staying close to their loved ones,” said Lyne Chantal Boudreau, minister responsible for seniors. “These further changes to regulations under the Nursing Home Act will help us match seniors to the right fit, so that, above all, New Brunswickers get the long-term care they require, in the right place, and at the right time.”

The province has 78 licensed nursing homes, providing 5,373 beds. There are 431 adult residential facilities offering care and services to about 7,600 residents.

A total of 640 nursing home beds have been awarded since 2021 under the 2018-2023 Nursing Home Plan; 460 of those beds have opened, with another 180 currently under construction.