Ten years following the peak in the Age of Sanatoria in Canada, its end seemed to be in sight. Pneumothorax, thoracoplasty, and separation from the general population were no longer the necessary treatment for tuberculosis patients. The normalization of drug regimens for treatment of active cases meant that tuberculous people could go back home, continuing their drug treatment without the direct supervision of health professionals and without the critical care of surgeons and specialists. As patients became well or left the sanatoriums to continue treatment at home, the need for beds decreased. Beds that were once reserved for the treatment of tuberculosis were now used to treat patients with other health problems.

This graph shows the peak of the Sanatorium Age, including the number of beds available in sanatoria, the percent occupancy, and the number of days' stay, in Canada between 1938 and 1964.