Nova Scotia’s PC Government is delivering meaningful, province-wide support for seniors, helping them stay healthier, live independently longer, and access the care they deserve faster than ever before.
Here’s what that looks like in action:
Building Up Long-Term Care
- Building 5,700 new and replacement LTC rooms by 2032. All rooms will include private bedrooms and washrooms, modern infection control standards, and improved indoor and outdoor activity spaces. By zone, this includes 2,200 rooms in Central, 1,210 in Eastern, 710 in Northern, and 1,560 in Western Nova Scotia.
- Raising the standard of care in long-term care. Our government is ensuring seniors receive an average of 4.1 hours of direct, hands-on care each day, providing the attention and support they deserve.
- Modernizing long-term care facilities in HRM. Ocean View in Eastern Passage, Oakwood Terrace in Dartmouth, and Saint Vincent’s in Halifax will be replaced with new 144-room facilities designed to meet modern standards.
Protecting the Health of our Seniors
- Free Shingles Vaccine for Seniors. Nova Scotians aged 65 and older can receive the shingles vaccine at no cost, helping reduce serious illness and ease pressure on the healthcare system.
- $5 million for Seniors Pharmacare and new cancer drugs. This investment expands drug coverage and improves access to life-saving medications.
- Continuing care nurses are being trained to prescribe medications for common ailments, improving access to care for seniors in long-term care and at home, with the province covering full tuition.
Helping Seniors Stay in Their Homes Longer
- Delivered by VON and expanding to more HRM neighbourhoods, the CAPABLE program supports seniors in improving mobility, safety, and independence at home by helping them set goals and make practical modifications such as installing grab bars, improving lighting, repairing steps, rearranging living spaces, and reviewing medications to build strength and prevent falls.
- Providing more than $500,000 to help seniors stay at home longer. This funding supports the purchase of new equipment for seniors and caregivers at home and in long-term care.
- Delivering a new home lift program for home-care providers so healthcare workers can deliver safer in-home care.
- $28.9 million to support caregivers. This investment strengthens wound care, workplace safety, emergency preparedness, and facility improvements across the continuing care system.
- Launching a new Power of Attorney app. The app allows Nova Scotians to create a legally valid power of attorney, ensuring they can designate a trusted person to manage their finances and property if needed.
Making Life More Affordable for Seniors
- $1.4 million to deliver a provincial income tax refund for 1,000 low-income seniors. This support puts money directly back into the hands of seniors, helping with everyday essentials and easing financial pressure.
- Providing eligible seniors a $400 heating assistance rebate to help manage rising home heating costs and stay warm through the winter months.
- Delivering a Property Tax Rebate for Seniors. Low-income seniors can receive a rebate covering half of their previous year’s municipal property taxes, up to $800, helping them remain secure in their homes.
- Our government created the Seniors Care Grant to provide direct financial support to older Nova Scotians. The grant was increased to $750 and eligibility expanded to households earning up to $45,100, helping more seniors cover essential household expenses, manage rising heating bills, and maintain their independence with dignity.
Training More Healthcare Workers, Faster
- Educating more CCAs, faster. A new accelerated six-month training program helps graduate continuing care assistants more quickly while reflecting the complex care needs of older Nova Scotians.
- Introducing a new CCA to Practical Nursing Bridging Program—supporting 25 experienced CCAs in becoming licensed practical nurses, strengthening the continuing care workforce.
- $57 million to attract and retain continuing care workers. This funding supports more staff and helps open more beds faster for seniors waiting for care.
Building Age-Friendly Communities
- Our PC government launched Seniors Hubs in partnership with NSCC to create welcoming local spaces where seniors can connect with others, access education and services, stay active, and feel supported in their own communities.
- Through the new Age-Friendly Communities Grant Program, our government is supporting communities across Nova Scotia in developing local initiatives that help seniors stay connected, active, engaged, and supported close to home.