(Sherbrooke) Deploring an “extremely worrying situation”, Minister Sonia Bélanger wants to support the “business model” of private seniors’ residences (RPA) to put an end to the series of closures. An announcement is expected in the coming days.
“Over the last five years, more than 500 RPAs have closed in Quebec,” said the Minister for Health and Responsible for Seniors upon her arrival at the Coalition Avenir Québec caucus, meeting in Sherbrooke for two days. in order to prepare for the start of the parliamentary term.
“We need to continue working with our RPAs, but at some point, there is also a limit to what the government can invest,” she added, recalling that the Quebec government has invested “more than 300 million” to support these accommodation environments since 2016.
According to her, the problem lies more in the current RPA business model. In the coming days, Minister Bélanger will present “more structuring” measures that will “sustain” the RPA business model. “I can’t talk about it because this measure must be discussed at the Treasury Board,” she said.
His office then clarified that this is a “new program” for which funding was provided in the last Girard budget.
Quebec has reserved 316 million over five years, including 59.6 million in 2023-2024, to “maintain the services offered to seniors, in particular to improve the direct allocation mechanism to customers losing their autonomy in RPA”. Which means that the government could review the allowance offered to residents who pay to receive health care in RPA.
The Press reported Wednesday that the industry has reached “a breaking point” with the rising cost of living and rising interest rates. The shortage of health workers also exerts pressure which increases the costs of care. For many residences, “the costs necessary to provide the services exceed the income they generate,” lamented the Regroupement québécois des residences pour seniors.
“Due to the pandemic, actions have already been taken by the government to ensure the sustainability of services and care offered in RPA,” we wrote in the budget last March.
“However, residences continue to close their doors due to the significant increase in operating costs under inflationary pressure, such as those associated with labor, insurance, inflation and certification” , we added.
According to a compilation of The Pressthe closure of 77 RPAs in 2023 resulted in the loss of 2,700 accommodation places.
Financial contribution from users
At the suggestion of the Commissioner of Health and Well-being, Minister Sonia Bélanger will examine the recommendation to impose a financial contribution on users who benefit from home support services based on their means. This would mean that a person who receives home support could pay for part of the service.
“It’s not a co-payment”, qualified Mme Bélanger. “We are going to look at this measure as all the measures. […] But one thing is important for me and for the government, and that is to preserve our public services, particularly home support in a context of an aging population,” she added.
Mme Bélanger stressed that some users already choose to “purchase certain services”, but “that for people who do not have the means, it is important that the government is present”.
With Ariane Lacoursière and Katia Gagnon, The Press
Study on the consequences of evictions
The Montreal Public Health Department (DRSP) in partnership with a researcher from the University of Quebec in Montreal is looking for participants for a study on the consequences of eviction from a private seniors’ residence (RPA). The objective of this research is to document the physical and psychological consequences of these evictions on the health of the elderly who were victims of them. Participants will be invited to respond anonymously to a questionnaire online or by telephone. No information on the targeted RPA will be requested. The research is led by Hélène Bélanger, professor in the department of urban and tourism studies at UQAM. This researcher is already conducting other studies affecting housing among seniors. Eligible research participants must be at risk or have experienced a reconversion of their RPA, or have been ousted from it, in the last four years, in Montreal. Family members or caregivers can also contact the researcher for more information. Anyone interested can contact Hélène Bélanger directly by email at [email protected] or by telephone at 514-987-3000 ext. 5080.
Lila Dussault, The Press