On Tuesday, May 20, you’re invited to the first Bathurst meet-and-greet for Nursing Home Without Walls.

We had the chance to speak with the Senior Navigator for the project, Emily Doucet, whose background in personal support work and passion for senior care make her the ideal candidate to spearhead this new non-profit.

Nursing Home Without Walls is a free bilingual program for seniors 60 and older, and it covers the Bathurst area as well as surrounding areas (All the way to Belledune, and Allardville). It aims to keep seniors in their homes as long as possible. The sad reality is that many senior homes and foyers are understaffed, and the need for a program that supports seniors staying in their homes is essential.

“We’re doing a survey to kickstart the program,” says Emily. “Because it’s not about us, it’s about what the seniors need.”

The program started in 2019 with a few pilot sites, including Lameque and Moncton. It grew throughout COVID as loneliness among seniors increased—so did the need—and now it’s taken off. There are locations across the province, including several in the Acadian Peninsula and one in Miramichi. As of April 22, Bathurst is the newest location for Nursing Home Without Walls. thanks to Victor Shea, the CEO of Atlantic Baptist Housing, who was able to get the program here in Bathurst.

The Meet-and-Greet will provide an opportunity for those who are interested to learn more about the program and the services it can offer.

“We’ll have access to a bus. We’ll bring them to get groceries and help them unload them. It’s the little things people don’t always think about, but that are important.”

The program will help with recreational activities and even address issues like fraud and scam protection. Seniors are at a much higher risk of falling victim to fraud, and this initiative will help educate them.

There will also be opportunities to teach seniors about technology. Many have family who don’t live nearby, and this will help them connect through platforms like FaceTime.

Again, as Emily says, it’s based on the needs of the senior. This is why surveys and meet-and-greets are so important.

Emily will have a Program Assistant, a PSW, as well as a bus driver. There will also be a need for volunteers.

You can visit their new Facebook page for regular updates and contact information here:

Nursing Home Without Walls – Robert L. Knowles – Bathurst

Emily Doucet is passionate about her new role and feels that all of the work and education she’s done in the past has led to this. Born and raised in Bathurst, she left for Ontario—and we couldn’t be happier that she’s decided to return to the region and help with something so vitally important.

We wish her the best in this new role, and we’re sure there’s going to be plenty of interest from the community.

Thank you, Emily, and all of the great people who helped get this program off the ground.Well, that’s it for another edition of the Northern Heat Report—the place you come to hear the stories that have not yet been discovered.