The Quebec population is aging rapidly, and many seniors would prefer to stay in their homes as long as possible. In order to allow this, the government of Quebec must develop its home care network in a way that both benefits seniors and is fiscally sound.
The historical reliance on institutional care for elderly individuals in Quebec has had serious consequences. It has prevented Quebec’s elders from gaining all the benefits of living in their own homes, such as maintaining independence and autonomy.
However, this reliance has also increased the costs of senior care and contributed to poor living conditions for many elderly people. Moreover, the high COVID-19 death rate during the first wave of the influenza pandemic has shown that seniors can be negatively affected by institutionalization and lack of social support.
In order to respond to these issues, the Quebec government should take a number of measures that could increase the demand for home care and decrease the costs associated with it. Among these, it should promote the concept of home care and strengthen its financing to enable more elderly citizens to live at home longer in their own homes.
One option is to reinforce home care funding and increase it by a maximum of 3.5 times the current CR. Using three different scenarios, we show that this strategy will enable the Quebec government to significantly improve the level of care while respecting cost constraints.
A notional senior’s care account, based on an allowance function of the Iso-SMAF profile, would be created to finance effective hours of home care. This account would reset every year with an annual amount that depends on the Iso-SMAF profile and the Quebec government would finance it.
Caregivers of senior citizens can receive tax credits for taking time off work to help with their care. These grants are available from the Quebec Ministry of Health, and caregivers can apply for them directly or be referred to them by physicians or community services centers.
These programs are not universally available, but can be a great financial resource for caregivers. They can be used to cover the cost of domestic help services such as housekeeping, meal preparation and laundry.
Assisted living emerged as an alternative on the continuum of senior care for seniors who do not require 24-hour medical attention but may need assistance with certain activities of daily living (ADLs). This type of accommodation is a privately owned rental residence that provides a home-like environment and trained staff.
The Assisted Living Program is a free service provided by the Social Development Department of Montreal that offers free domestic help services to older adults in need. The program is designed to make it easier for older individuals to stay in their own homes for as long as they can, and is a good way to help seniors get the care they need.
A number of non-profit organizations, such as the Association des Residences et CHSLD Prives du Québec (ARCPQ), and the Societe d’habitation du Québec (SHQ) offer housing options for seniors. These facilities provide a variety of housing solutions, such as condos or apartments for seniors who need extra assistance. Montreal home care
