Western Valley pilot project aims to help people age in place with support
Nursing Home Without Walls (NHWW), a New Brunswick-born initiative to empower older adults to age in place, has arrived in the Upper Wolastoq (St. John River) Valley.
Initially conceived by Université de Moncton researcher Dr. Suzanne Dupuis-Blanchard, NHWW was launched in 2019 with four pilot projects around the province. Since then, the program has been expanded to other communities with funding from the New Brunswick Department of Social Development, Université de Moncton and Healthcare Excellence Canada, and there is interest from other provinces.
Now, a new NHWW program is available to seniors in the Nackawic-Millville area and beyond.
“The next program (upriver) is in Bath so I actually cover from Fredericton to Bath,” explained Program Coordinator Alison Orr. “This is the 24th program in the province, and we’re up to 27 or 28 since we started. It’s an entirely free program. Qualitative and quantitative data shows people are mentally and physically better off staying in their homes for longer.”
NHWW avoids duplication of services by focusing on supporting people in accessing existing resources and services.
“How this program looks is completely different in different communities,” she said. “Each community has different needs, and it also depends on what is already available. It’s community specific.”
Orr is in the process of finding out what people need through community assessments, as well as establishing what is already available and making that information available.
“A big part of my job is identifying existing services, and identifying any gaps in those services. If services are not already provided, I can provide them, as long as it’s an Aging-in-Place initiative and we’re supporting seniors in their home and community.”
Supports the program can provide include respite care, social opportunities, and physical activities such as walking and planting groups.
“I bring coffee, tea and snacks. People love dressing up and going out twice a week. Some have even started up like a phone tree if somebody doesn’t show up.”
Helping seniors access resources is another important aspect of the program
“I can walk people through funding applications. It can be stressful doing paperwork; it’s a lot, especially if they have health issues and are taking medications. You need to have things like grab bars and ramps in place prior to being released from the hospital.”
Orr is careful to stress that NHWW staff have no involvement with any costs associated with resources and services they help people access, and they are not involved in any way with decisions about people going into a home.
A registered massage therapist herself, Orr notes that a lot of NHWW staff are from healthcare backgrounds and caring professions.
NHWW is for people aged 60+, with some programming available to people who are 55+, Orr explained. People can self-refer to the program or go through their healthcare provider.
Contact Orr at 506-575-4913 or email nackawic@forestdalehome.ca to access the program and book a community group presentation.
