In order to harmonize the quality of services offered to seniors, Quebec announced Thursday that 4 more private residential and long-term care centers (CHSLDs) will now be funded by the State, which will bring their total number to 18. Of all the 37 private establishments in Quebec, Minister Sonia Bélanger wishes to contract “all those who want it and who meet the criteria” by the end of 2025.
“Residents will have access to living environments that will be standardized compared to public CHSLDs, so it will be the same criteria and the same respect for the obligations that we currently have for our public CHSLDs,” explains the Minister Delegate to Health and Seniors Manager, Sonia Bélanger, in interview at Duty.
The CHSLDs affected by Thursday’s announcement are that of Manoir Soleil in Montérégie, that of L.-B.-Desjardins in the Laurentians, as well as those of Angus and Château Westmount, both in Montreal. This therefore represents a total of 330 additional places which become subsidized.
In May 2022, coroner Géhane Kamel recommended the agreement of all private CHSLDs, in a report on the numerous deaths occurring in seniors’ accommodation settings at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mme Bélanger believes that the process, initiated by Quebec in 2022, is progressing at a “good pace”. The Legault government had committed to approving all private CHSLDs in the province by the end of 2025. “But we cannot force a private CHSLD to be private, she adds. My goal is therefore to reach agreement with everyone who wants it. My second criterion is that they really meet the norms and quality standards. »
However, she is hopeful that there will be an “acceleration” of the process in the coming months. “I hope to be able to announce the agreement of a few other establishments in the winter. »
Growing needs
According to Sonia Bélanger, the agreement of private CHSLDs is essential in a context where the aging of the population leads to a growing demand for accommodation. “It’s a solution that is a win-win for everyone and first of all for the residents,” she maintains.
When private establishments are approved, accommodation costs for residents are set by the Régie de l’assurance santé du Québec. “It will have a significant effect on the finances of people losing their autonomy,” says M.me Bélanger.
The agreement of private CHSLDs also allows staff to benefit from the same working conditions as employees of the health network, underlines Paul Arbec, president of the Association of Private Long-Term Establishments of Quebec (AELDPQ). “It helps us hire and retain staff. »
With Thursday’s announcement, 13 of the 23 establishments of this association will now be approved, indicates Mr. Arbec. “After the pandemic, there was the observation made by many, including the authorities, that the financing of CHSLDs could not be up and down and that it required equity. »
Like the AELDPQ, the Association of approved private establishments (AEPC) welcomes the agreement of four additional private CHSLDs.
However, the aging of the population and the presence of a heavier clientele than before bring many challenges for these establishments, underlines the general director of the AEPC, Annick Lavoie. “To succeed in their agreement, and continue to offer the quality for which they are recognized, approved private establishments must continue to receive funding that meets growing needs, year after year,” she maintains.
Questioned on this subject, Minister Bélanger replied that she was in discussions with the AELDPQ and the AEPC to ensure “that we have a network that will be coherent”.