Despite progress in recent years, approximately 30% of residential and long-term care centers (CHSLDs) in Quebec are still not air-conditioned or are only partially air-conditioned.
The information came from the minister responsible for seniors, Sonia Bélanger, who revealed on Wednesday that “more than 70% of CHSLDs were air-conditioned or partially air-conditioned”.
When we say that a CHSLD is “partially air-conditioned”, this means that it has portable units that can be deployed in the corridors and bring fresh air into the rooms, explained its press secretary, Léa. Fort.
According to the same survey, 99% of CHSLDs have at least one common area that is air-conditioned, such as the cafeteria, for example. It is also an obligation, indicates Mme Fortin, specifying that the rare CHSLDs (there are two) which contravene this rule are located in the regions in environments which are not exposed to severe heat waves.
This data comes from a survey conducted last year by the ministry. In front of journalists, Mme Bélanger stressed that much progress has been made in recent years.
“We came from very, very far away,” she said. “In 2020, a small number of public CHSLDs were 100% air-conditioned.” The minister adds that in CHSLDs “which were built in the 1950s”, it is “very very difficult to install integrated air conditioning ventilation systems”.
50% in 2022
In 2022, a compilation from the Quebec Association of Retirees from the Public and Parapublic Sectors (AQRP) revealed that almost half of the rooms in CHSLDs did not have an air conditioning system. Normally, any resident who requests one should be able to obtain one in their room.
Minister Bélanger also recalled that all Integrated Health and Social Services Centers (CISSS) have action plans deployed during episodes of extreme heat. “We are monitoring this very, very closely so that people can remain comfortable,” she said.
More than 36,000 people reside in CHSLDs in Quebec, the vast majority of whom are seriously losing their autonomy.
With the collaboration of François Carabin