Social Development Minister Sue Stultz says the specialized care beds will reduce wait times and provide the proper long-term care for seniors with dementia. (CBC)

The New Brunswick government has issued a request for proposals to create some specialized care beds for seniors with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia.

It's the first phase of the government’s plan to create 704 specialized care beds across the province over the next five years.

The request for proposals is for 180 beds to be created by 2013.

Specialized care bed homes will provide enhanced services to seniors who may require assistance with daily activities but do not require ongoing nursing care or supervision, said Social Development Minister Sue Stultz.

The new beds are expected to reduce wait times and provide seniors, who are currently in hospitals, with the proper long-term care they require, said Stultz, who is also the minister responsible for seniors, housing and community non-profit organizations.

Beds alone not enough

But there are some concerns the beds alone won't be enough to meet long-term needs.

Chandra MacBean, the executive director of the Alzheimer Society of New Brunswick, says there are currently about 13,000 people in the province living with some form of dementia. And that number is expected to double in the next 20 years, she said.

'We need to have a holistic plan that looks at more than just the end-of-life issues, but the just-diagnosed issues.'—Chandra MacBean, Alzheimer Society of New Brunswick

"We need to have a holistic plan that looks at more than just the end-of-life issues, but the just-diagnosed issues," said MacBean.

"People with this disease need to have support and information at the onset so they can plan, so the person with the disease can take part in their own decision making and be involved in their care plan."

MacBean says the beds are a good start. But the provincial government also needs to focus on other areas of the system, she said.

"What really needs to take place is a more holistic approach to this issue, and to look at it in a more strategic way so that people have their needs met at all stages of the disease process."

Seniors advocate Cecile Cassista is worried the new beds could mean mixing seniors who have dementia with those who don't.

"There could be violent people, there could be people that are very calm, there could be people that wander from room to room."

No cause for concern

But the minister says there's no cause for concern.

"We would never put a client — a senior — or a client that has Alzheimer's or dementia in any home that doesn't have the support services there," she said.

Department officials will work with the Alzheimer Society of New Brunswick and other stakeholders to develop a training initiative designed for those who will provide direct care for seniors with Alzheimer's disease or dementia, Stultz said.

Fifty-four of the new beds are slated for Saint John (Region 2), 36 each for Moncton (Region 1) and Fredericton (Region 3), while Edmundston (Region 4), Restigouche (Region 5) and Miramichi (Region 7) are each expected to get 18.

Proposals from qualified bidders will be evaluated by the geographic location of the proponents, said Stultz.

Bed approval will be allocated according to demographics and identified need, she said.

"The demographic review conducted as part of the [nursing home] renovation and replacement plan showed an increasing need for these types of beds and services," Stultz said in a statement.

"The creation of these beds will ensure that we meet the overall growing needs of our seniors with Alzheimer's disease or dementia and enhance our seniors' quality of life."

The deadline for applications is July 6.

The rest of the new special care beds will be spread out over four years — 162 in 2013-14, then 144, 108, and 110.

The government also plans to create 354 nursing home beds as part of its 2011-16 nursing home renovation and replacement plan, announced in March.

The plan is expected to cost $329 million.

New Brunswick has the second-largest proportion of seniors in Canada and the number is expected to double in the next 20 years.