Are you a senior who would like to move out of your home for a living environment adapted to your needs? Are you looking for a place for a loved one? Here's what you need to know.
In Québec, all housing facilities for the elderly must comply with safety and service quality standards and criteria. This is the case for private facilities, managed by individuals, and public facilities, managed by the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux.
Types of accommodation
Suitable types of accommodation are determined based on the person's needs. As their needs change, they may have to move to another type of accommodation:
- Private seniors’ residences (RPAs) cater to people who are independent or semi-independent. The services offered vary from one residence to another: meals, domestic help, security, leisure activities, personal assistance, nursing care, etc.
- Intermediate resources (IRs) are designed for people with mild to moderate loss of autonomy who have targeted needs. The resources may be group residences or supervised apartments that encourage people to remain in the community.
- Residential and long-term care centres (CHSLDs) and seniors' homes provide accommodation for people with advanced age-related loss of autonomy. They offer a range of services, including psychosocial, nursing, pharmaceutical and medical services. Seniors' homes offer these services in a home-like environment.
Non-subsidized environments
In these private settings, an apartment or a room is rented by signing a lease (RPAs) or an accommodation contract (private uncontracted CHSLDs).
The owners determine the cost of accommodation and services.
All private CHSLDs should be under contract (i.e. funded by the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux) by late 2025. Once this transition is complete, only RPAs will not be subsidized.
Subsidized environments
Subsidized environments may be private (IRs and private CHSLDs) or public (public CHSLDs and seniors’ homes).
Accommodation costs are set by the Régie de l'assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ). However, residents’ contributions may be reduced according to what they can afford. They must apply to RAMQ.
Online calculation tools can be used to estimate the contribution amount of a person living in an IR or a CHSLD.
To gain access to a subsidized environment, a person must be assessed by the CISSS or CIUSSS in their region. The institution will first determine the person's level of autonomy, then refer them to the facilities that best match their needs. Please note that most subsidized facilities have a waiting list.
Any questions or problems?
Are you looking for accommodation? For a place in a subsidized environment, contact the CISSS or CIUSSS concerned. For a place in an RPA, consult this article and the register of private seniors’ residences certified by the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux.
Are you dissatisfied with...
- The quality of services provided by a CISSS or CIUSSS, a CHSLD, an IR or an RPA? Contact the Service Quality and Complaints Commissioner. If you are not satisfied with the response or if it takes longer than 45 days, turn to the Protecteur du citoyen as a second level of recourse.
- RAMQ's decision to reduce your contribution? You can request a review. If you aren’t satisfied with the outcome, or if you are not notified within 90 days, you can apply to the Tribunal administratif du Québec (TAQ).
- The quality of RAMQ or TAQ services? Contact the Protecteur du citoyen directly.
Also see:
Choosing a private seniors' residence
Filing a health network complaint in the public or private sector
