AdvantAge Ontario Championing Nursing Home Without Walls
Toronto, Ontario (April 20, 2026) – Seniors across Ontario will soon have more support to stay in their own homes, thanks to a new program being launched for the first time in the province.
AdvantAge Ontario is announcing three pilot sites for Nursing Home Without Walls (NHWW), an innovative model that brings services to older adults living in the community through the expertise and coordination of long-term care home and existing community service providers.
The program focuses on older adults who are still living at home but may need extra support to stay there. Instead of only providing care inside their buildings, participating long-term care homes will now act as community hubs, helping seniors in the community navigate health and social services, providing social programs to reduce loneliness and isolation, and access community transportation.
The three selected sites are:
- Algoma Manor (Algoma)
- Fairview Mennonite Homes (Cambridge)
- Perley Health (Ottawa)
The initiative has been championed by AdvantAge Ontario, the provincial association representing not‑for‑profit long‑term care homes. Led by AdvantAge Ontario, the Ontario pilot builds on the successful Nursing Home Without Walls model, originally developed in New Brunswick. This project is funded by Healthcare Excellence Canada and The Waltons Trust and aligns with a broader pan‑Canadian approach supported by these organizations. AdvantAge Ontario is supported by a steering committee with representatives from government, government agencies, and community partners.
“We saw what this model was achieving in New Brunswick and knew it would make a real difference here in Ontario,” said Lisa Levin, CEO of AdvantAge Ontario. “It’s all about supporting seniors earlier, so they can stay healthy, connected, and at home, which is what most people want.”
The pilot announced today will run from 2026 to 2028. All services are provided at no cost.
Recent media reports show that a growing share of long-term care admissions in Ontario now come through crisis placements from hospitals after preventable acute care admission, often limiting patient choice and contributing to longer wait times and mismatched placements. AdvantAge Ontario has called for more upstream supports that reduce pressures on the hospitals and delay admissions into long-term care.
“We believe that this type of program is the way of the future,” said Levin. “Most people don’t want to wait until they’re in crisis to get help.”
Media Backgrounder: Nursing Home Without Walls (NHWW) – Ontario Pilot (Policy Overview)
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About AdvantAge Ontario
AdvantAge Ontario is the voice of not-for-profit seniors’ care in the province, representing more than 530 providers of long-term care, seniors’ housing, supportive housing and community service agencies.
Contact: Chris Noone
Senior Manager, Communications and Member Services
cnoone@advantageontario.ca
