B.C.’s first

Senior Friendly Emergency Unit:
Fully Funded

In Donations toward the Senior Friendly Emergency Unit
Donors
THE ROGERS FOUNDATION

DOUBLE YOUR DONATION

From now through the end of the year, every dollar donated to the Senior Friendly Emergency Unit campaign will be matched dollar-for dollar by The Rogers Foundation to a maximum of $250,000.

dONATE NOW

Rebecca McGregor

Clinical Operations Director – NRGH

When we set out to fund British Columbia’s first Senior Friendly Emergency Unit, we knew it would take a community effort, today I’m excited to share that you answered that call in a remarkable way. 

Thanks to your generosity, we not only reached our $1.2 million goal, we surpassed it, fully funding a new model of emergency care for Seniors in our region.

More than one-third of emergency patients are seniors, and this new unit will ensure they receive care that reflects their unique needs, with safer, more comfortable spaces and specialized geriatric training for staff. 

A special thank you to The Rogers Foundation for their $250,000 matching gift that propelled us past our goal.

Because of you, seniors in our region, our parents, grandparents, neighbours, and friends, will experience emergency care with greater dignity, comfort, and improved outcomes for years to come. 

Barney Ellis-Perry
Clinical Operations Director – NRGH

Why It Matters

Our Emergency Room needs It


NRGH is the busiest ER on Vancouver Island with an aging population. Vulnerable patients wait hours, or even days, for a bed. With this support, we can change that

No Senior Should have Hospital Care in a Hallway


The Senior Friendly Emergency Unit will feature equipment designed for seniors, quieter spaces, and staff trained in geriatrics, so recovery is safer and faster.

The Right Environment improves Outcomes


A calm, senior-friendly space will reduce stress, confusion, and risk of falls, leading to better recovery.

ANTICIPATED OPEN WINTER 2026

Project Update

Advancements for the Senior Friendly Emergency Unit are already underway. Learn more about the status of the project here.

LEARN MORE

Anticipated to Open Winter 2026

On behalf of all of us at the Foundation, thank you for making this milestone possible.

Did you know we have the busiest ER on all of Vancouver Island?
And 35% of all daily visits are seniors 65 and over.

Right now, our emergency department is overcrowded, and patients often wait long hours just to be assessed. For elderly patients who are already frail, already vulnerable, this is more than frustrating. It can be dangerous.

That’s why this season, we are asking you to join us to raise $1.2 million to build and equip a specialized emergency space where seniors can receive care that’s calm, safe, and dignified.

Together, we can ensure no senior has to receive hospital care in a hallway.

Rebecca Photo - Senior ER
Trevor Cradduck Senior Friendly Emergency Unit

When Trevor Cradduck’s close friend fainted and broke her pelvis, he saw firsthand how urgently seniors need better emergency care.

“I want the best care for the people I love – and for you and everyone in our community. Please join me and donate today to build and equip this urgently needed unit.”

Trevor’s story

Absolutely. Having a dedicated space for seniors to receive the specialized care they need, will help take the pressure off the often-overwhelmed and over-capacity ER.  

We absolutely agree that hallway care in the ER is challenging for many individuals, which is why we continue to advocate for a new patient tower in Nanaimo, to address the ongoing challenges of overcapacity.

Yes, and these upgrades help move us closer to that. Improving lighting, layout, equipment, and seating creates a more accessible space for seniors and makes the ER more efficient for everyone who comes through it.

It’s a renovation of an existing section of the existing Emergency Department at NRGH.

This renovation doesn’t take staff from other areas.


By adding specialized equipment to fit the need of who is admitted daily care becomes more efficient and helps reduce pressure across the whole ER. 

We want to provide the best possible care to all patients who present to NRGH. As seniors make up the population that spends the most time in our ER, we are taking this opportunity to focus on their needs and the positive patient outcomes we would like to see. Improving this area helps reduce overall strain and supports better care for everyone. We are currently also raising funds this season is supporting a new treatment facility to support people struggling with addiction and mental health challenges. Learn more about that project here: https://nanaimohospitalfoundation.com/giving-tuesday/ 

The Foundation’s role is to fund equipment and patient-comfort upgrades that enhance care beyond basic infrastructure. Things like the Cancer Clinic currently under construction is an example of the government funding progressing infrastructure projects, but we are as eager as you for a government announcement for a new hospital tower and Cath Lab to meet the demand of this growing region. Your support of this campaign helps our community today.  

The triage workflow is going to be designed over the next several months with input from community members and front line staff. 

Over the next year, the focus will be on incorporating the principles of senior friendly care into the NRGH ER, to better serve the people we are already seeing every day