The New Passamaquoddy Lodge
The New Passamaquoddy Lodge (NPL), will be fashioned after the “household model”. This model is much as the name implies and brings with it both design and operational elements that focus on person-centered care. The household model aims to replace the institutional setting often associated with long-term care, with something much more inviting; a home-like environment.
Long-Term Care Services refer to a range of personal support, physical, social and mental health services required by individuals who, because of long term functional limitations, need assistance to function as independently as possible.
All the residential rooms at the NPL will offer single occupancy, each with full individual bathrooms. There will be 12 residential rooms in each of the five “homes” along with a kitchen, dining room where meals will be served, and living room. Staff and visitors will be welcomed to share meals. For larger gathering and special occasions, meals will be served in the activity room. The main portion of meal preparations will take place in the central kitchen. Some cooking or heating up will be done in the home, often with the help of the residents.
Visiting from one home to another is encouraged and made convenient by a spacious corridor that link all the homes and buildings of the complex.
The NPL, like all nursing homes in New Brunswick, will be funded in part by a per diem based on the number of beds in the facility, as well as receiving payments from residents for their cost of care. Budgets and per diems are established annually and paid by the Department of Social Development. Per diem refers to the daily rate negotiated with the province to cover a portion of the costs to care for a resident in long term care
Community Hub
Saint Andrews and area has long been a community which honours all its residents – old or young, working or retired and those devoted to outdoor pursuits or to a cozier indoor lifestyle. In 2019, we were recognized by the Province as an “Age-friendly Community”, inclusive to everyone and where healthy aging and wellness is promoted. A number of programs, resources and supports are necessary for older adults to enjoy independent living in their own homes. Many of these necessities are already operating and available in Saint Andrews. The Seniors’ Resource Center, located temporarily at the Saint Andrews Wellness Centre, offers older adults the convenience of accessing many of the programs available to older adults, but because space is limited, others are yet to be realized in Saint Andrews.
Aging in place or independent living allows you to stay in your home with family, friends, and neighbors, instead of moving to a residential facility. Experts say the key to successful aging includes accepting changes and finding meaningful activities. Having strong social connections and pursuing fun activities are important components of graceful aging. It isn’t necessarily how well we hide the outward signs of growing older, but how we approach the activities in our daily lives that make a difference.
The community, through the Healthy Seniors Pilot Project recently voiced the need for an adult day program. Day Activity Services provide caregiver relief, as well as social support, and meaningful social/recreational activities in a group setting to their love one in a safe and supervised setting. Adult Day Centres, can also be a source of relief for families and caregivers during the daytime hours. Adult Day programs and centres fall under the provincial regulations for adult day programming and thus a specialized, government approved space is needed. This space is part of the design of the NPL.
The adult day program fits in beautifully with the Nursing Home without Walls concept which the NPL hopes to adopt. Nursing homes around the province have joined the government’s Nursing Homes without Walls program, extending some of their services to seniors still living at home. These nursing homes implement the program by using existing community infrastructure, providing additional resources, extending expertise and services, all allowing more seniors the advantages of independent living.
The Community Hub at the NPL will become the new Seniors’ Resource Center, in Saint Andrews; a one-stop, accessible space through which seniors or their family members can access up-to-date information and resources that will support their or their loved one’s aging journey. Many of these areas and services are difficult to identify and find. These needs could include learning how to navigate the internet for support, for equipment loans, advice on support, programs and services available, whether municipal, provincial or federal, or from other agencies. In addition, staff would also do on site visits to help assess needs and support those who cannot otherwise get to the resource centre. The space would have hard copy information and a computer for those who can come in to access information or learn how to access information.
Passamaquoddy Children's Centre
The child care centre at the NPL, will continue to combine both daycare and early learning services. It will offer a safe and secure environment for personal and academic development to the children of Saint Andrews and area. Furthermore, having the child care centre located within the NPL Complex will provide daily interaction between our children and our seniors.
Inter-generational programs intentionally unite the generations in ways that enrich participants’ lives and help address vital social and community issues while building on the positive resources that young and old have to offer each other and to their communities. These programs bring people of different generations together for ongoing, mutually beneficial, planned activities, designed to achieve specified program goals and promote greater understanding and respect between generations. Reciprocity, sustainability, intentionality, training, support, and viewing younger and older people as assets are hallmarks of successful programs.