People you trust caring for people you love

Do you have a loved one recovering after a hospital stay? Need a hand with meal preparation, housekeeping, or personal care? Want peace of mind knowing your loved one is safe, comfortable, and thriving at home? We can help

30+ Years of Care

We've been providing compassionate, reliable in-home support to families across the Cape Breton Regional Municipality since 1998.

Fully Accredited

We are Cape Breton’s oldest and largest private homecare provider — and the only accredited homecare company on the Island.

Part of the Family

When you choose New Dawn, money is reinvested back into the community, meaning you are also supporting programs like Meals on Wheels.

More than homecare

We provide compassionate, in-home care to Cape Bretoners throughout the CBRM – all at a competitive price. But we're more than homecare. We're an extension of your family. We're that extra helping hand. We're your peace of mind.

Services

Our 5-Step Approach to Exceptional Care

1
Free In-Home Assessment

We listen and learn about your needs, or those of your loved one.

2
Personalized Care Plan

Together, we create a plan tailored to your unique situation.

3
Caregiver Match

We connect you with a dedicated caregiver or care team best suited to your needs.

4
Ongoing Support

We provide the level of care you need to feel safe, confident, and comfortable at home.

5
Regular Check-Ins

We stay in touch to ensure satisfaction and adjust your care plan as needed.

Call today for a FREE in-home, medical assessment by New Dawn Nursing

Free In-Home Assessment

Not sure where
to start?

Do you have questions about how New Dawn Homecare can help? Or need guidance to better understand your care options at home, a facility or hospital?

At New Dawn Homecare, we understand that accepting help can be overwhelming. Whether you or a loved one has experienced a health issue or just need an extra set-of-hands to help with day-to-day tasks, New Dawn Homecare has been providing compassionate in home care to CBRM residents since 1988.

Call us today

to arrange a free in-home medical assessment with our nursing staff

902-562-2444
homecare@newdawn.ca
37 Nepean St, Sydney NS

Our Caregivers

Safety and Security
You Can Trust

We believe in the importance of aging at home — in the places we know and love, surrounded by the communities that give us comfort and connection. We are proud to help make this possible for more and more of our neighbours and friends across Cape Breton.

Your family can have peace of mind knowing that every New Dawn caregiver is:

Bonded and Screened

With full Criminal Record and Vulnerable Sector checks

Highly Trained

Including First Aid/CPR, Food Handlers Certification, and Teepa Snow Dementia Care training

Professionally Supported

With 24/7 access to a nurse for guidance and oversight

Fully Insured

For safety, accountability, and protection

“Laura has fit in seamlessly and provides wonderful care, we are so happy with the care Mom receives!”

— Valerie Edwards (daughter of New Dawn Homecare client)

“Evelyn is a huge blessing to me. Thank you so much for matching us together. She does so much for me and I don’t know what I would do without her. I’m just amazed that we get along so well.”

— Marianne Myatt (New Dawn Homecare client)

Accreditation

New Dawn Homecare is proud to be accredited by Accreditation Canada, an independent, not-for-profit organization that sets national standards for safety and quality in healthcare and shares best practices worldwide.

During a three-day review of our services, policies, and procedures, Accreditation Canada found that:

As Cape Breton Island’s largest non-profit, private homecare provider, New Dawn voluntarily undertakes the accreditation process every four years. This reflects our ongoing commitment to better care, safer clients, and stronger teamwork.

FAQ

When can you start?

Open

How quickly we can begin providing care depends on the type of care required. We can have caregivers in your home anywhere from a few days after your call, to a week or two after your call.

Our New Dawn Care Coordinator is available to speak with you Monday to Friday from 9:00am to 5:00pm. You can call 902-562-2444 at your convenience to begin the free assessment process.

Do I need a physician’s authorization for your services?

Open

No. You don’t need pre-authorization, pre-qualification, certification or even a prescription for Right at Home’s services. You choose the services you want, when to start those services and how often those services are used.

If you request assistance with billing a private insurance policy for our services, we’re happy to help with the entire benefits coordination process. This includes providing any documentation you need for reimbursement by an insurance carrier.

Will I have a choice of who comes to my home?

Open

At New Dawn Homecare, we understand that accepting help can be overwhelming. Whether you or a loved one has experienced a health issue or just need an extra set-of-hands to help with day-to-day tasks, New Dawn Homecare has been providing compassionate in home care to CBRM residents since 1988.Yes, we will work with you, based on your needs, to select the most appropriate caregiver or team of caregivers for you. Not all of our caregivers have the same training and qualifications (for example, Personal Care Workers and Licensed Practical Nurses can’t perform all of the same tasks) and so we endeavour to find someone who fits your needs in terms of their qualifications and disposition.

Will my family member have the same caregiver every time?

Open

Continuity of care (having the same caregiver or same team of caregivers) is important to New Dawn Homecare and to your care. We work hard to schedule the same caregiver or team of caregivers for your family member. We believe that building good quality relationships with those who share your home and lives is important to well-being.

In exceptional circumstances (i.e. a caregiver is unwell, a caregiver is taking a leave of absence, a caregiver is called away to help with a client emergency) your family member may be assigned an alternate caregiver.

What if we want to change the kinds of service we receive?

Open

You can change the number or type of service we provide your loved one whenever it’s necessary. We understand the care situation can quickly change, so we’re as flexible as possible with your loved one’s care.

Do we have to sign a contract? What if we want to cancel?

Open

You’re never bound to a contract, so you can discontinue your relationship with New Dawn Homecare at your discretion.

What are my rights as a client?

Open

Read about your rights as a client below.

How are your staff screend when they are hired?

Open

Every caregiver we send to your home is New Dawn Homecare employee and has gone through our screening and orientation processes and has agreed to abide by all New Dawn Homecare policies and procedures. To help ensure the safety and well being of our clients, we perform a criminal record check and vulnerable sector check with each caregiver before they are hired and then cover each caregiver with general liability and workers’ compensation insurance.

My dad has dementia, and it is getting harder to care for him. Do you have services for this?

Open

Yes. Cognitive decline, dementia, and/or Alzheimer’s diagnoses can be difficult for a loved one and their family. Providing care for someone living with this disease is not a simple task and can place a great deal of stress on the caregiver.

We can provide anywhere from three hours a day to care that is 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. Our caregivers who work with dementia and Alzheimer’s clients are trained in Teepa Snow’s Positive Approach to Care (PAC).

Some clients elect to have a caregiver come in to provide respite to a family caregiver, allowing them to leave the house or get some rest with enhanced peace of mind. Other clients elect to have New Dawn Homecare in for the overnight hours, especially if their loved one has a tendency to night-wander.

We also know that care needs can and do change overtime and we can revise and enhance your care plan as new or different care needs arise.

My mum has very limited mobility, can you still help?

Open

Yes, our staff are trained in working with clients with limited mobility, including transfer assists and personal care (bathing and dressing) for those with limited and/’or declining mobility to ensure that they can continue to live lives that are full and healthy at home.

How can I verify a shift was completed?

Open

New Dawn Homecare uses several tools to track our caregivers. First, we use simple timesheets filled out by each caregiver. Our caregivers are also required to complete charting notes for every shift. Then, we use a combination of Internet-based solutions to verify time, attendance, and charting notes.

This allows you to have a written record of services within the home where care is provided. We can provide this written verification to you at any time.

Also, our itemized invoices are only sent after services are complete. This lets you ask any questions about time or date of care.

How much are your services?

Open

The cost of our services depends on the kind of care required. Our care rates range from $22.50/hour to $25.00/hour for personal care to $55.00/hour for care from a Licensed Practical Nurse. These hourly rates are plus tax.

In some circumstances, these hourly rates are plus travel costs.

We always provide a written care plan based on your specific needs that includes an outline of all costs prior to initiating care services. Rates will never be increased without at least sixty days notice.

We have a three-hour minimum for all of our care services. This means that, unlike publicly funded homecare, we aren’t stopping in for 15 minutes in the morning or 15 minutes at night. During our three hour visits we can deliver a number of services: bathing, dressing, meals, social connection, medication reminders, and/or grocery shopping and transportation to appointments.

There are a few factors that go into our setting our care rates:

We are fully insured, as are all of our caregivers. This means that if ever there is an accident or an incident in your home, and a caregiver is injured, you are not liable for this. As a registered business who pays into Workers Compensation, our employees are looked after by our insurance and Workers Compensation in the case of a workplace injury.

We carefully screen, train, and equip our caregivers to provide exceptional quality of care at all times and in all circumstances. Our frontline caregivers are supported 24/7 by a Nurse Care Coordinator. Our training is ongoing (not just at the start of employment) so that we can ensure that we are always using best practices in all of our work.

Can you visit my parents for an assessment if I live in another province?

Open

Yes. We can schedule a visit to your loved one’s home, hospital room, or long-term care facility to conduct a care plan assessment. If you are their authorized representative, this entire process can be done in consultation with you. Our care coordinator will follow-up with you after the visit to discuss what was learned, and you will have the final say in the kinds and frequency of care they receive.

Do you provide overnight care?

Open

Yes, we can provide care that ranges anywhere from three hours once every few months to twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Depending on care needs, we have CCAs and LPNs who provide overnight care, to ensure that medications are administered as needed, your loved ones don’t wander or injure themselves, or simply to give you the added piece of mind that if help is needed in the middle of the night, it is already there.

Can New Dawn Homecare help with medications?

Open

Yes, our Personal Care Assistants can provide medication reminders, and our Licensed Practical Nurses can help with the administration of medication.

How long have you been in business?

Open

New Dawn Homecare was founded in Sydney, Nova Scotia in 1988 and has operated continuously since this time. Over the last 34 years we have grown in size and expanded to provide a variety of services based on the needs of our clients.

Do I pay the caregiver directly? What are your payment options?

Open

No. You (or an authorized representative) are only invoiced after the completion of services and at the end of each month. You never have to pay caregivers directly. And you’ll never be asked to pay an additional fee to any employee.

You can pay your invoice via cheque, credit card, e-transfer, or pre-authorized debit.

How is my privacy protected?

Open

Read our privacy policy below.

What kind of insurance do you carry?

Open

Your right to
quality care

As a client of New Dawn Homecare, we are committed to upholding the following rights to you.

If at any time you feel your rights as a client of New Dawn Homecare have been violated, please phone (902) 562-2444 to speak with the Client Care Manager of New Dawn Homecare. We promise to promptly follow-up on all client-raised issues, concerns and complaints about our service provision.

Please never hesitate to contact the office with any questions or concerns, we are here to support you and need you to contact us immediately so we can work swiftly to resolve any issues you may have.

Client Rights

The right to be treated with courtesy, dignity and respect

The right to be informed and consulted about available services and to choose from available alternatives

The right to be part of decisions made about your care

The right to pursue any complaint about service provision

The right to involve an advocate of your choice

The right to privacy and confidentiality, and access to all personal information about you in New Dawn’s files

The right to the highest and safest quality of care

Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy applies to all personal information within New Dawn Homecare’s possession and control.

Protecting the privacy and confidentiality of personal information is fundamental to New Dawn Homecare’s daily operations. We collect, use, protect, disclose (when requested by client or required by law), and destroy private and confidential information in a way that conforms to all applicable federal and provincial laws and regulations, and in an appropriate, responsible, and ethical manner.

All New Dawn Homecare staff, from the Director of New Dawn Healthcare to our frontline housekeeping staff, abide by our procedures and practices when handling personal information.

New Dawn Homecare’s Privacy Management Program is governed by the information handling practices of the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA).

Under no circumstances will New Dawn Homecare sell, distribute, or otherwise disclose personal information or contact lists to third parties.

Consent/Implied Consent

Open

Occurs and is obtained when an individual signs an application or other form containing personal information, thereby authorizing New Dawn Homecare to collect, use, and disclose the individual’s personal information for the purposes stated on the form or in the Appropriate Use section of this policy.

This consent then allows New Dawn Homecare to obtain or verify information from third parties (such as banks, credit bureaus, lenders, or insurance companies) in the process of assessing the eligibility of an individual, customer, client, job applicant, or business partner.

New Dawn Homecare will obtain individual consent if personal information is to be used for any other. New Dawn Homecare will not use that information without the consent of the individual.

Appropriate Use

Open

New Dawn Homecare limits the amount and type of personal information it collects to that which is necessary for the business of the service provider and as permitted by law. Personal Information will be collected using procedures that are fair, transparent and lawful. New Dawn Homecare hereby asserts that personal information will only be used for the following purposes:

To verify the client’s/customer’s identity;

To determine the client’s/customer’s eligibility for service;

To provide the client with care and to bill the client for that service;

To assist us in updating the client’s creditworthiness and the collection of accounts;

For pre-authorized payments for services;

To respond to the client’s inquiries about appropriate levels of care;

To prevent fraud with respect to both the client and our company; and

To meet legal, regulatory and settlement requirements.

Information Retention

Open

New Dawn Homecare will retain personal information only for the duration it is needed for conducting business. Once personal information is no longer required (i.e. 3 years after the last day of service), it will be destroyed in a safe and secure manner. However, certain laws may require that certain personal information be kept for a specified amount of time. Where this is the case, the law will supersede this policy.

Situations for Using Information without Consent

Open

New Dawn Homecare may use personal information without the individual’s consent under particular circumstances. These situations include, but are not limited to:

New Dawn Homecare is under obligation by law to disclose personal information in order to adhere to the requirements of an investigation of the contravention of a regional or federal, under the purview of the appropriate authorities.

An emergency exists that threatens an individual’s life, health, or personal security.

The personal information is for in-house statistical study or research.

The personal information is already publicly available.

Disclosure is required to investigate a breach of contract.

Staff Roles

Open

The Director, or their designate, is also responsible for the training and monitoring of employee privacy practices as it applies to clients, employees and proprietary information. Every New Dawn Homecare employee must understand their responsibilities for confidentiality and privacy and comply with New Dawn Homecare’s standards as a condition of hire and ongoing employment. The Director of Healthcare, or their designate, is responsible for reviewing this policy with all New Dawn Homecare employees at the time of hire and for witnessing and retaining in the employee file:

For front-line staff: Privacy, Confidentiality and Non-Disclosure Agreement

For administrative staff: Acknowledgement and Agreement of New Dawn Homecare Privacy Policy

Third Parties

Open

New Dawn Homecare assumes full accountability for the personal information within its possession and control, including any personal information that has been transferred to a third party for regulatory, legal or processing purposes.

New Dawn Homecare will require a comparable level of protection of this information from its third-party relations. This organization has appointed Janine Hussey, Director of Healthcare, as custodian of all privacy matters and legal compliance with privacy laws.

Protections

Open

New Dawn Homecare vows to protect personal information with the appropriate security measures, physical safeguards, and electronic precautions. New Dawn Homecare maintains personal information through a combination of paper and electronic files.

Information Accuracy

Open

New Dawn Homecare shall take all reasonable steps to ensure that all personal information will be kept accurate, complete and up to date. Individuals may challenge the accuracy and completeness of personal information about them and have it amended, as appropriate.

Publication of Policies

Open

New Dawn Homecare will make its policies and practices relating to the protection of personal information available to its clients. New Dawn Homecare will keep its clients informed of these policies and practices and clients shall be provided access to all related policies and procedures via our web page and bill inserts. The information will be available in a format that is easy to understand.

Individual Access

Open

In most instances, New Dawn Homecare will grant individuals access to their personal information upon presentation of a written request and satisfactory identification. Should New Dawn Homecare deny an individual’s request for access to his/her personal information, New Dawn Homecare will advise in writing of the reason for such a refusal. The individual may then challenge the decision.

Challenging Compliance

Open

Any client of New Dawn Homecare may challenge New Dawn Homecare’s compliance with this Privacy Policy by contacting New Dawn Homecare directly. New Dawn Homecare has policies and procedures to receive, investigate and respond to individuals’ complaints and questions. New Dawn Homecare will investigate and respond to concerns about any aspect of the handling of personal information. This organization will address concerns to the best of its abilities.

Resources

Emergency Contact Numbers

Open
Cape Breton Regional Hospital
(902) 567-8000
Glace Bay Hospital
(902) 849-5511
New Waterford Hospital
(902) 862-6411
Northside General Hospital
(902) 794-8521
Emergency
911
CBRM Emergencies
(902) 563-5132
Police Non-Emergency
(902) 563-5151
Health Information
811
Continuing Care
1-800-225-7225
Eastlink Outage
1-888-345-1111
Power Outage
1-877-428-6004
Bell Aliant Outage
1-800-663-2600

Community Resources and Contact Information

Open
211 Nova Scotia
Dial 211
811 Registered Nurse with NS Telecare Services
Dial 811
Alzheimer Society of Nova Scotia
1-800-611-6345
Arthritis Society of Nova Scotia
1-800-321-1433
Canadian Red Cross
(902) 564-4114
Canadian Diabetes Association
1-800-226-8464
Caregivers Nova Scotia
(902) 371-3883
Continuing Care Nova Scotia
1-800-225-7225
Heart and Stroke Foundation of NS
1-800-423-4432
Victorian Order of Nurses (VON)
1-888-866-2273

Meal Options

Open
Sydney Meals on Wheels (New Dawn)
(902) 562-1245
Glace Bay Meals on Wheels (Townhouse)
(902) 849-2449
New Waterford Meals on Wheels (Rotary)
(902) 862-8312
Northside Meals on Wheels (Kiwanis)
(902) 736-2701 ext. 221
Cheticamp Meals on Wheels
(902) 224-1598
Baddeck Meals on Wheels
(902) 295-2112
Katrina’s Kitchen (frozen meals, Baddeck)
(902) 295-0366
VON Meal & Grocery Delivery (Cape Breton Metro)
(902) 564-6479 ext. 205

Nova Scotia Health Authority

Open
Cape Breton Regional Hospital
(902) 567-8000
Glace Bay General Hospital
(902) 849-5511
New Waterford Consolidated Hospital
(902) 862-6411
Northside General Hospital
(902) 794-8521

Personal Emergency Response

Open
Phillips Lifeline
1-800-387-8120
Northwood In Touch
1-800-461-3346

Day Programs

Open
VON Adult Program
(902) 564-6420
Glace Bay Adult Program
(902) 842-2807
Harbourview Adult Program
(902) 736-2831
Foyer Pére Fiset
(902) 224-2087

Equipment Information, Rental, or Purchase

Open
Canadian Red Cross
(902) 539-4349
Lawtons Home Health Care
1-888-944-0442
Pharmasave Home Health Center
(902) 564-0475
Harding Medical Supply
(902) 567-1144

Housing/Assisted Living/Enriched Housing

Open
Cape Breton Island Housing Authority
(902) 539-8520
MacLeod House Retirement Living
(902) 631-6218
Williston House
(902) 539-8520
MacGillivary Apartments
(902) 539-8520
Northside Guest Home
(902) 539-8520
Parkland Retirement Living
(902) 270-7275

Additional Supports

Open
Asant Café (Dementia Education & Support)

Home Care Services

Open
New Dawn Homecare
(902) 562-2444
VON Home at Last
(902) 564-6479
Cape Breton County Homemakers
(902) 562-5003
City Homemakers Services
(902) 564-0460

Staff

Amanda Thomson, LPN
Manager, Homecare athomson@newdawn.ca 902-562-2444 ext.242
Valerie Youden
Scheduling Coordinator, Homecare vyouden@newdawn.ca 902-562-2444 ext.241
Audrey Moore, LPN
LPN Team Lead, Homecare newdawn@newdawn.ca 902-562-2444

Contact

902-562-2444
homecare@newdawn.ca
37 Nepean St, Sydney NS

Job Postings

Title Schedule Wage/Salary Status
Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Full-Time, Part-Time, Casual $30.45/hr OPEN
Licensed Practical Nurse Full-Time, Part-Time, Casual $30.45/hr APPLY by July 25, 2025 CLOSED
Footcare Nurse Full-time, Part-time, and Casual  APPLY by May 13, 2024 CLOSED

Recent News

Get in touch

New Dawn Enterprises
37 Nepean St, Sydney, Nova Scotia B1P 6A7
newdawn@newdawn.ca
902-539-9560

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Eymu’ti’k Unama’ki

Eymu’ti’k Unama’ki, newte’jk l’uiknek te’sikl Mi’kmawe’l maqamikall mna’q iknmuetumittl. Ula maqamikew wiaqi-wikasik Wantaqo’tie’l aqq I’lamatultimkewe’l Ankukamkewe’l Mi’kmaq aqq Eleke’wuti kisa’matultisnik 1726ek.

We are in Unama’ki, one of the seven traditional and unceded ancestral territories of the people of Mi’kma’ki. This territory is covered by the Treaties of Peace and Friendship which the Mi’kmaq first signed with the British Crown in 1726.

Ketu’-keknuite’tmek aqq kepmite’tmek ula tela’matultimkip wjit maqamikew ta’n etekl mtmo’taqne’l. Ula tett, ula maqamikek, etl-lukutiek l’tunen aqq apoqntmnen apoqnmasimk aqq weliknamk Unama’ki.

We wish to recognize and honour this understanding of the lands on which we reside. It is from here, on these lands, that we work to create and support a culture of self-reliance and vibrancy.

Your Gift Will Be Matched Until December 31st

AuCoin Renovations is matching all donations to the New Dawn Youth and Family Centre up to $10,000.

Glace Bay’s young people deserve a safe, welcoming place to learn, grow, and belong. The new Youth & Family Centre is being built for them, and your gift can help open its doors.

Give Now