Ontario's 'Nursing Home Without Walls' Aims to Keep Seniors Independent Longer
A new pilot project in Ontario is testing a way to keep older adults independent and out of long-term care. Called Nursing Home Without Walls, the scheme connects seniors with support services in their own communities. The two-year trial, backed by £420,000 in funding, aims to reduce hospitalisations and improve quality of life. The initiative is part of a national rollout by Healthcare Excellence Canada. Three nursing homes in Ontario have been selected to take part, identifying local seniors who need extra help. Each person is paired with a ‘navigator’ to assess their needs and link them to services.
The model offers social activities, exercise classes, and access to nursing home facilities like bathtubs. The goal is to prevent health decline so participants can stay in their own homes. Ontario currently has 50,000 people waiting for long-term care beds, a pressure this project hopes to ease. Lisa Levin, CEO of Advantage Ontario, pushed for the programme’s adoption in the province. While the pilot is funded by the Waltons Trust and Healthcare Excellence Canada, Levin expects provincial government support once results are proven by 2028.
If successful, the project could show that targeted support keeps older adults healthier for longer. This would cut reliance on costly hospital and nursing home beds. The findings will help decide whether the model expands across Ontario after 2028.
