Nursing Homes

Nursing Homes are publicly funded residences for older adults whose care needs require supervision and nursing care. This can include medical care, dressing changes, medication management, etc. Nursing staff are available 24/7 to meet the care needs of your loved one, keeping them safe day and night.

Cooking, cleaning, laundry, and furniture are included in the monthly fees. Fees are paid partially by the resident and partially by the government through the Long Term Care Program. Funding assistance is determined through a financial assessment. Costs do not exceed 85% of the resident's income, or 60% if they are in a partnership. Assets aren’t taken into account as part of the financial assessment. Public nursing homes are an affordable option for someone whose care needs are high.

Your loved one might benefit from a nursing home if they:

• have complex but stable medical needs and don’t need to be in hospital
• can no longer live without 24-hour assistance and supervision
• frequently need nursing or personal care  

Residents of nursing homes might have advanced memory loss or dementia, need assistance with bathing, dressing, and toileting, and have more needs than what can be provided by family or friend caregivers and Continuing Care.

Nova Scotia Nursing Homes will help explain the process for accessing a long-term care placement. To find out what the current wait times are for Nursing Homes in your area, please see Nursing Home Facility Placement from Home – Wait Times.

Finally, fact sheets from Continuing Care on Long-Term Care and Paying for LTC as well as a complete Directory of LTC Facilities may be helpful in preparing for this transition.