New Brunswick Nursing Home Admission Checklist

The call came — a bed is available at your parent's preferred nursing home, and you have a narrow window to accept and move them in. The logistics of admission day can feel overwhelming if you have not prepared in advance. Here is what you need to have ready.

Required Documents

Medical Status and Physical Examination Form. A physician or nurse practitioner must complete this form prior to admission to any licensed nursing home or special care home in New Brunswick. Schedule this appointment as soon as your parent is on the waitlist — do not wait until a bed is offered. The form verifies the parent's current medical status, medications, and clinical needs.

Proof of Enduring Power of Attorney. If someone other than the parent will be signing the residency agreement and managing financial matters, the facility requires a copy of the executed EPA for Property. If the parent has capacity and will sign themselves, no EPA is needed for the admission paperwork — but having one in place is strongly recommended for future decisions.

Canada Revenue Agency documents. Two years of Notices of Assessment if the financial needs assessment has not yet been completed, or documentation that the CRA partnership consent was already provided during the application.

Medicare card. The parent's valid New Brunswick Medicare card.

Signed residency agreement. The facility provides this. Read it carefully before signing — it specifies the daily rate, payment schedule, what is included in the base fee, and what is billed separately. For special care homes, pay close attention to care surcharges above the provincial subsidy.

Direct deposit or billing authorization. The facility needs a payment method for the monthly co-payment. Most facilities prefer direct deposit from the parent's bank account or pension.

What to Bring: The Packing List

Nursing homes have limited room space and specific rules about what residents can bring. Contact the facility before packing to confirm their guidelines, but the standard list includes:

Clothing. Comfortable, easy-to-put-on clothing — items that open in the front, elastic waistbands, slip-on shoes with non-slip soles. Bring enough for a full week plus spares for laundry turnaround. Label every item with the parent's name using permanent markers or iron-on labels — lost laundry is a persistent issue in institutional settings.

Personal comfort items. A favourite blanket, family photos in lightweight frames, a small lamp, a clock with large numbers. These items reduce transfer trauma by creating visual anchors of home in a new environment.

Toiletries and personal care items. The facility provides basic supplies, but families often bring preferred brands of soap, shampoo, lotion, toothpaste, and denture care products. Electric razors are preferred over blade razors for safety.

Mobility aids and glasses. Eyeglasses, hearing aids (with spare batteries and a labelled case), dentures, a walker or wheelchair if the parent has one they prefer.

Entertainment. A radio, audiobook player, or tablet. Large-print books or magazines. A few favourite music CDs if the facility has a player available.

What NOT to bring. Valuable jewellery (high risk of loss), throw rugs (fall hazard), candles or anything with an open flame, electric blankets, and sharp objects. Leave expensive electronics at home unless the room has a secure storage option.

Questions to Ask the Facility Administrator

Before signing the residency agreement, ask:

• What is the total monthly cost including all surcharges and care fees?
• What personal expenses are billed separately (cable, phone, foot care, hairdressing)?
• How is laundry handled — is personal laundry included or charged extra?
• What is the visitor policy, including hours and overnight guest rules?
• How are medications managed — does the facility use its own pharmacy or the parent's existing prescriptions?
• What happens if the parent's care needs increase — is there a process for reassessment and potential transfer to a higher level of care?
• Who is the assigned care coordinator, and how does the family communicate concerns?

The Comfort Allowance

Every subsidized nursing home resident retains $150 per month from their pension income as a personal comfort allowance. This is protected — it is not deducted during the financial assessment. Special care home residents receive $135 per month. These allowances cover personal incidentals not included in the facility's base rate.

Settling In

The first two weeks are the hardest — for both the parent and the family. Transfer trauma (also called relocation stress) is real and can manifest as confusion, withdrawal, agitation, or sleep disruption. Frequent short visits during the first week, familiar objects in the room, and consistent daily routines help ease the transition.

The New Brunswick Care Decision Guide includes a printable admission preparation checklist, a packing list template, a facility comparison worksheet, and a complete list of questions to ask before signing any residency agreement.

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