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BILL CLARKE
The Tribune

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DALHOUSIE - On Monday, Brian Kenny, the Minister of State for Seniors was at the existing Dalhousie Nursing Home to announce that, as part of the province's plan to renew and revitalize the province's nursing home infrastructure, the 105-bed facility in Dalhousie will be replaced.

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Brian Kenny

It is hoped that a new nursing home will help to offset the tax base losses caused by the closure of Dalhousie's only three industries. Those losses started in early 2008 with the closure of the AbitibiBowater newsprint mill, followed by the Olin chemical plant and, just over a week ago, the government announced that the NB Power thermal generating station would cease operations when fuel runs out sometime after next June.

The closures will remove millions from the town's tax revenue, but the $31.5 million nursing home announced on Monday is being welcomed as a step toward restoring the town's tax base. Other government construction coming to Dalhousie include a $16 million jail that is already underway.

Kenny was joined by the local MLA, Minister of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour Donald Arseneault and by Supply and Services Minister Dr. Ed Doherty. Each made some mention of Dalhousie's challenging circumstances as the town tries to maintain services with reduced revenue.

Kenny said that construction is expected to start next spring and that the job should be finished by July, 2013. Although the new facility will not add any beds in Dalhousie, it will meet modern standards.

Doherty said that the days when residents in these homes had cars parked outside are gone. Today's nursing homes are strictly for what are termed level 3 and 4 patients. They need 24-hour care and can do little for themselves.

A home employee said that the present building had been constructed for a different purpose. The rooms are small and, in many cases, the bathrooms cannot accommodate wheelchairs. In fact, the rooms are so small that it makes caring for patients difficult.

The site for the new structure has not been identified. Following the announcement, Alden Appleby, the home's board chairman, said that they are looking at "two or three sites" and when one has been selected, they will work with the architect to come up with a design. He hopes this will be done before Christmas and that work would be able to start in April or early May.

Appleby said that they hope to find a new use for the existing building. These might involve assisted living or senior day care; that is, seniors being cared for by their families would be brought there when the families are unable to provide care temporarily. Appleby said that there are a whole group of such services that could be provided in the present building.

At current tax rates, the new home would add more than $600,000 to the town's tax revenues. The new jail will add over $300,000. These will partially offset the loss of $1.6 million when the power plant closes.