(Québec) Québec solidaire proposes an “emergency plan” to curb the wave of closures of private residences for seniors (RPA). Quebec must “rethink” the way it supports the smallest residences and encourages their conversion into NPOs when the end is inevitable.
Posted at 5:16 p.m.
According to QS, the study of Bill 101 aimed at strengthening the fight against elder abuse and monitoring the quality of health and social services presented “a golden opportunity” to add legal provisions to better protect the smallest RPAs and avoid the relocation of seniors when establishments close.
The Press revealed on Monday that at least 150 RPAs, the vast majority of which have less than 50 places, have closed their doors since January 2021. A phenomenon that will accelerate if the Legault government does not intervene directly due to the increase in cost of care, argued the president and CEO of the Quebec Regrouping of residences for seniors (RQRA), Marc Fortin.
“We knew it was happening, but we didn’t know how much. What is happening at the moment is really serious because the consequences, we will have them for years if the government does not act immediately ”, reacted the united deputy, Sol Zanetti.
The consequences of the closure of an RPA, the hosting system in Quebec will not be able to manage them. We can’t afford that, it’s going to bring human drama.
Sol Zanetti, MP for Québec solidaire, spokesperson for seniors
During the detailed study of Bill 101, the political party presented a series of amendments which would have allowed the deployment of an “emergency plan” to curb the bleeding.
In particular, the certification of RPAs should provide for a mechanism for conversion into NPOs. If a small residence is in financial difficulty and wants to close, the State should have the right to take it over and entrust its management to an NPO, explains Mr. Zanetti. “The purpose of this […] it is to switch from the private to the social economy as many private residences as possible, those who obviously want it, ”he says.
QS also proposes that the certifications issued by the CISSS be accompanied by an obligation for a future buyer to maintain the building purchased as an RPA. To receive subsidies, RPAs should also open their books so the government can see their profitability, he argues. These proposals were rejected during the detailed study of the legislative text.
Review funding
The Parti Québécois and the Liberal Party of Quebec also believe that Quebec should review the funding granted to small residences.
“We have to admit that [l’aide versée aux résidences] didn’t work. It’s fine to make announcements, but you have to follow the state of the situation. When you read and see what is going on, it is clear that the measures are not sufficient or not well targeted”, illustrates the Liberal MP, Monique Sauvé, who believes that the situation exposed in The Press is “appalling” for seniors and their families.
The story is similar on the side of MP Lorraine Richard: “It’s horrible what seniors have to face by being uprooted,” she says. The member for Duplessis pleads in favor of increasing the funding of RPAs on the condition that they “show their credentials” about their activities. She believes that the CISSSs must offer better support to families in the event of closure.
“If the network was close to RPAs and supported them, we could predict closures, retirement of owners […] There, there are 150 closures, there is something happening, ”she warns.
The office of the minister responsible for seniors, Marguerite Blais, argued Monday that the Legault government has supported “considerably [les RPA] using new programs” and emergency aid under the 2021-2022 budget.