Our long term care community
In 1988, Joseph Shannon purchased Breton Bay nursing home in Sydney, NS.
We are privileged to operate long term care communities (or “nursing homes”) throughout Nova Scotia and New Brunswick where team members deliver resident-directed care and service that allows every resident to live in a place where the service, programs and physical spaces are intentionally designed to promote resident independence, wellness, safety and security.
We understand our responsibility to those who live and work in our communities, our health partners and the public. Even though we are a private organization, we are accountable to the provincial government for our licensed nursing homes, just like every other licensed nursing home operator. Our healthcare funding is dedicated to healthcare activities and we take this responsibility seriously.
Information about admissions to long term care
Let us help you learn more about the journey into long term care. The first step is connecting with government officials to get placed into a provincial long term community.
Once you become a resident in our communities, we are committed to ensuring your voice and your ideas are central to our decision-making and in the care and services we provide.
New Brunswick
Department of Social Development
Nova Scotia
Department of Seniors and Long Term Care
Placement
Every Shannex nursing home is licensed by the provincial government and accredited through Accreditation Canada
We are committed to excellence in service and care and fully appreciate that there are always ways to make things better. We are accredited through Accreditation Canada and have been voluntarily participating in this process since 1993. Every team member participates and takes pride in the process which measures organizations against national standards of excellence in healthcare and helps ensure that we are always improving quality and following best practices. Shannex received Accreditation with Commendation in 2023.
Design for our communities
Our homes are designed with smaller neighbourhoods that are self-contained within the home with everything needed to create a household environment. This intimate and familiar approach to living nurtures independence and promotes feelings of safety, happiness and pride while allowing residents to develop strong relationships with each other and caregivers.
Our new homes feature an innovative Main Street concept designed to feel like a small downtown street. Residents can stroll along the street, visit the chapel, café, theatre or town hall.
Life at Shannex
Wellness is more than just physical activity. We focus on a holistic approach to being well, which includes six dimensions of wellness: physical, intellectual, social, vocational, emotional and spiritual. Our recreation team members get to know each resident and design activities to suit their hobbies and interests.
- Amenities
- Programs
- Services
Amenities
- Fully furnished rooms with private washroom
- Private, wheelchair accessible rooms
- Space for your own decorations to give your room a personal touch
- 24-hour emergency call system
- Housekeeping and laundry service
- Telephone and cable service (optional)
Programs
- Wellness programs to optimize independence
- Fulfilling recreation and leisure programs for a variety of interests and abilities
- Musical entertainment
- Garden and horticultural activities
- Community and cultural events
- Holiday celebrations
- Intergenerational and volunteer programs
- Friendly pet visits
- Resident Council
- Family Council
Services
- Individualized assessment and care planning
- Professional interdisciplinary health care team
- Nursing staff 24-hours a day
- Dietician
- Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists
- Palliative approach to care
- Pain and symptom management
- Spiritual services
- Hairdressing/barber services
Resident and family advisory committee
The Resident and Family Advisory Committee is a meaningful way to become engaged with our communities and ensure our residents’ voices are reflected in everything we do. The Committee includes residents and family members across Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Ontario.
Resident and family councils
Each campus has its own resident and family councils to provide input and influence decisions that are being made in each community every day to improve the overall resident and family experience. To learn more, please speak with a member of your management team.
Resident and family liaison
Giving you peace of mind is important to us. That’s why, we have a Resident and Family Liaison who is available to address your questions, comments or concerns.
Katherine VanBuskirk is our Resident and Family Liaison. She is happy to provide you with support related to any aspect of care or service.
She can be reached by phone at 902-406-8297 or by completing the contact form here.
Frequently asked questions about long term care
Each province has its process for accessing long term care.
New Brunswick:
The application process is managed by the Department of Social Development (DSD). Learn more about long term care by calling 1-833-733-7835 or view associated costs and regional contacts in DSD’s online long term care pamphlet.
Nova Scotia:
The Department of Health and Wellness (DHW) manages the application process. Those interested in long term care can contact Continuing Care toll-free at 1-800-225-7225 to learn more. DHW also has an online fact sheet about entering long term care and associated costs. As of March 1, 2021, the application now includes assessment for a life partner.
Residents pay the same amount to live at a Shannex nursing home as they would at any other nursing home in the province. The Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness or the New Brunswick Department of Social Development determine the daily accommodation rate amount based on each resident’s financial assessment.
Your daily accommodation rate is calculated prior to admission through the financial assessment process conducted by the Department of Health and Wellness in Nova Scotia or by the Department of Social Development in New Brunswick.
To be considered for a reduction in the daily accommodation rate:
Nova Scotia: the Department of Health and Wellness requires your Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) Notice of Assessment. This assessment will be required preadmission and annually by June 30th to continue being assessed for any reduction. The Department of Health and Wellness sets a new accommodation rate each year that goes into effect November 1st of each year. Residents receive a letter from the provincial Eligibility Review Officer thirty days prior to the rate change to advise you of your new rate. For additional information, please click here.
New Brunswick: the Department of Social Development will ask you to complete a Financial Declaration Form stating the income of the resident and spouse, if applicable. The information on the form is reviewed, verified and an assessment of net family income is determined based on the process outlined in the Standard Family Contribution Procedures Manual.
Applicants must provide written authorization to allow verification of the financial information. As the request for a financial subsidy is a voluntary action by the applicant and the granting of a subsidy by government is discretionary, what is considered as income is determined by the Standard Family Contribution Policy of the Department of Social Development. For additional information, please click here.
Nova Scotia
On March 1, 2021, the Life Partners in Care Act came into effect in Nova Scotia. It ensures eligible spouses; common law partners and domestic partners (Life Partners) can be placed together in licensed long term care communities at the highest care level required.
New Brunswick
You can request your spouse be admitted to the nursing home with you. This request should be submitted to the Department of Social Development.
Yes! This is your new home, and we encourage residents to bring personal items such as plants, pictures, mementos and hygiene items to their new home. Each suite is also wired for cable television, internet and phone that are available for additional charges. Please note that all electronic items must be CSA approved and inspected/approved by maintenance staff prior to use and that there are restrictions on some items.
Shannex has a formal Medication Reconciliation (MedRec) procedure at all communities. A MedRec form must be completed during all transitions of care to/from Shannex.
In order to complete a medication reconciliation, we need to begin by creating a comprehensive list of medications you currently take. The list should include:
All prescription medications
Herbal supplements
Vitamins
Nutritional supplements
Any over-the-counter drugs
This information is helpful because interactions can occur between prescribed medications, over-the-counter medications, or dietary supplements. Without a MedRec we cannot administer medications. Your input is vital to a safe and smooth transition of services.
For more information, please see the Medication Reconciliation brochure.