Eden Gardens
1917 Northfield Road
Nanaimo, BC V9S3B6
Island Health
This facility accepts . Contact your local Health Authority to begin the assessment process.
Eden Gardens is a 130-bed long-term care home in Nanaimo, operated by the Broadmead Care Society. Opened in 2017, the facility is purpose-built for residents living with dementia and is the only not-for-profit long-term care home in central Vancouver Island dedicated entirely to dementia care. Care follows the Eden philosophy, which aims to reduce loneliness, helplessness, and boredom through meaningful engagement, therapeutic gardens, and secured indoor and outdoor spaces. Resident cats are part of daily life at Eden Gardens. The home also operates adult day programs — Daybreak and Stepping Stones — serving community members alongside residents. Placement is managed through a Home and Community Care assessment — call 8-1-1 to start. Contact Eden Gardens to ask about the residence itself.
Last verified May 11, 2026 · operator website
What families should know
Placement through Island Health — publicly funded placement
Vancouver Island Health manages placement at Eden Gardens; families should contact an Island Health Community Health Services office for assessment and admission coordination rather than the operator directly. This long-term care home is known for its dedicated dementia care using the Eden Alternative philosophy, with a campus structure featuring 12 secure neighbourhoods across multiple buildings, each offering dining areas, lounges, gardens or solariums, and an infinity loop garden. It sits on five acres along Northfield Road just west of Bowen Road in Nanaimo, 1.5 km from Nanaimo Regional General Hospital and centrally positioned for community access. All 130 residents live with dementia in this complex care home. BCSA QuickFacts reports community non-urgent admission waits averaging 775 days. Worth checking if current availability matches these figures, accreditation expiry in May 2027, and visiting policies with the Health Authority or facility.
Based on BC Seniors Advocate QuickFacts, Health Authority records, and publicly available facility information · Last reviewed May 14, 2026
Also on this campus
Care Specializations
Dementia care programs vary by facility. Contact directly to confirm specialized memory care availability.
Based on what we know about this facility. We recommend calling to confirm their specialized programs.
Languages Spoken
Quality & Safety
Quality Indicators (CIHI — Canadian Institute for Health Information)
Reviews
Eden Gardens receives polarized reviews ranging from praise for caring staff, organized activities, and dementia care programming to serious allegations of neglect, inadequate supervision, and management unresponsiveness to family concerns. Common positive themes include staff dedication and facility atmosphere, while persistent complaints involve phone accessibility, management accountability, and safety protocols. The facility appears to have inconsistent experiences depending on timing and staff involved.
Based on Google reviews
Sentiment by Topic
What families appreciate
- +Staff are caring, compassionate and genuinely interested in residents' wellbeing
- +Excellent dementia care program with transparent communication about incidents
- +Well-organized activities including live music, car shows, games, and day programs
- +Pleasant rooms with thoughtful amenities and quality meals
- +Consistent, excellent care delivered by staff members who go out of their way for residents
Concerns mentioned in reviews
- -Severe neglect and inadequate care allegedly resulting in resident decline over short timeframe
- -Difficulty reaching facility by phone; staff does not answer calls reliably
- -Management dismisses concerned family members as 'problem families' rather than addressing concerns
- -Inadequate safety measures and failure to protect vulnerable residents from violent residents
- -Poor adherence to public health protocols during COVID-19 and slow management response
Frequently Mentioned
Review excerpts are from Google reviews and may reflect individual experiences. CareCompare does not verify review claims. Contact us if you manage this facility.