Two members of the Lonicera Hall Board of Trustees and Home Support Services Inc. are departing as the two organizations look to merge and continue the operation of the independent living facility.
Randy Reid, the former treasurer of the board of trustees and administrator, and Carol McIntee are leaving following the end of their terms.
“Home Support Services Inc. is pleased to welcome three new trustees to the Lonicera Board: Dave Archambault, who will assume the role of treasurer and interim administrator, along with Bob Hamel and Joyce Wright,” a statement from HSSI said. “Their experience, commitment to the community, and shared vision for the future of seniors’ care will be invaluable as the organization continues its work.”
HSSI unveiled a plan to keep the independent living facility open after a decision was made to close.
The board of Lonicera Hall said in April that it had made the difficult decision to wind down operations and residents living there would need to find alternative accommodations by early summer, noting its inability to continue to operate past that point.
HSSI executive director Laura Macfarlane presented an integrated model to some members of the public.
Lonicera Hall would continue to be an independent living facility, with 10 beds. In addition, there would be eight transitional beds — beds supporting short-term stays for patients needing post-hospital recovery —two respite care beds — again, short-term beds that provide relief for caregivers of seniors in the community.
Macfarlane said it is known as the 10-8-2 model. There would also be an additional facility built next to the residence to be used for clinical space, common areas and HSSI’s offices.
“In 2026, things have changed,” she said. “Things are more expensive. Everybody is struggling with the increased cost of living, increased staffing costs. It’s just a difficult environment for business in general.”
It is no different for a non-profit, she explained.
Lonicera Hall’s operating costs have exceeded the amount an organization can charge for rent, she said, making it increasingly unsustainable over the last decade.
In an update, Macfarlane said work continues with the Department of Social Development (DSD), the Department of Health (DoH) and the New Brunswick Housing Corporation.
“The organization remains encouraged by ongoing discussions with provincial partners and confident that the Government of New Brunswick (GNB) shares its vision for a more innovative, person-centred approach to ageing in place.
According to Macfarlane’s presentation back in June, the cost of an alternative level of care (ALC) bed is $800 to $1,500 per day.
A long-term care bed costs between $250 and $400 per day. The proposed model would cost roughly $220 per day.
The Department of Social Development (DSD) said the current wait time for assessments for placement in long-term care is 76 days.
According to the release, the redevelopment of Lonicera Hall will create an Integrated Rural Senior Housing & Health Hub.
The model aims to keep seniors connected to their communities while accessing health, housing, and support services.
Macfarlane said the project represents a made-in-Charlotte-County solution. The intent, she explained in the release, is to pilot a project that can be deployed throughout the province.
“We are very encouraged by the conversations taking place with our provincial partners and by the recognition that rural communities need new approaches to supporting seniors,” Macfarlane said in the release. “We believe Charlotte County is uniquely positioned to demonstrate how integrated housing, health services and community support can work together to help people age in the place they call home.”
Macfarlane said HSSI has been able to remove the September deadline for closure and hope to stabilize the residence more permanently soon.
