The waiting times to obtain a place in a CHSLD is getting longer and longer in Quebec. There is a lack of places to meet all accommodation needs and thousands of people are waiting each year to be admitted to public CHSLDs and this number continues to grow.
When the time comes to take steps to obtain a place in public accommodation, the seniors in need or their families feel that they are facing a complex administrative process. Despite this situation, there are alternatives to obtaining a place in long-term care accommodation.
Waiting Lists, in Figures
Number of People Waiting for a Place in a CHSLD in March 2026, according to government data.
| CISSS or CIUSSS | Number of People Waiting |
|---|---|
| CISSS DU BAS-SAINT-LAURENT | 73 |
| CIUSSS DU SAGUENAY - LAC-SAINT-JEAN | 40 |
| CIUSSS DE LA CAPITALE-NATIONALE | 174 |
| CIUSSS DE LA MAURICIE-ET-DU-CENTRE-DU-QUÉBEC | 94 |
| CIUSSS DE L'ESTRIE-CENTRE HOSP. UNIV. DE SHERBROOKE | 167 |
| CIUSSS DE L'OUEST-DE-L'ÎLE-DE-MONTRÉAL | 164 |
| CIUSSS DU CENTRE-OUEST-DE-L'ÎLE-DE-MONTRÉAL | 48 |
| CIUSSS DU CENTRE-SUD-DE-L'ÎLE-DE-MONTRÉAL | 124 |
| CIUSSS DU NORD-DE-L'ÎLE-DE-MONTRÉAL | 83 |
| CIUSSS DE L'EST-DE-L'ÎLE-DE-MONTRÉAL | 87 |
| CISSS DE L'OUTAOUAIS | 292 |
| CISSS DE L'ABITIBI-TÉMISCAMINGUE | 73 |
| CISSS DE LA CÔTE-NORD | 46 |
| CISSS DE LA GASPÉSIE | 28 |
| CISSS DES ÎLES | 24 |
| CISSS DE CHAUDIÈRE-APPALACHES | 185 |
| CISSS DE LAVAL | 198 |
| CISSS DE LANAUDIÈRE | 256 |
| CISSS DES LAURENTIDES | 292 |
| CISSS DE LA MONTÉRÉGIE-CENTRE | 152 |
| CISSS DE LA MONTÉRÉGIE-EST | 193 |
| CISSS DE LA MONTÉRÉGIE-OUEST | 276 |
| TOTAL | 3,069 |
The number of people waiting is 3,069 across the province in march 2026. In february 2026, 3,056 people were waiting, an increase of 13 people, or 0,4%. 57% of people are waiting are at home.
Caregivers aged 15 and over represent a quarter of the population of Quebec and provide 85% of home care. The increase in waiting time only adds to the burden on already exhausted caregivers. Among the remaining 39%, 25% are seniors in hospital, waiting for a place in a long-term care center. To obtain accommodation in a CHSLD, you have to wait for a place to become available. The wait can be up to 24 months.
How to Get a Place in a CHSLD?
To obtain a place in a CHSLD, you have to go through several stages: the request for accommodation at the CLSC, the evaluation of the suitability of the accommodation, the designation of the appropriate environment, and the wait for the place and admission. The accommodation access mechanism (MAH, which oversees requests for public accommodation, leaves room for great disparities from one region to another, both in terms of waiting times and the access process. A public CHSLD accommodation is not free. RAMQ which establishes the amount to be paid, according to your financial capacity. If you have gone through these steps, you may still be waiting for a place. People waiting often find themselves faced with a lack of resources and it can be difficult to navigate.
Yet there are other types of accommodation in the private sector. The person accommodated can benefit from a tax credit for care and services and obtain a place quickly, without a waiting list. Another advantage of the private sector, it is possible to bring your own personal items, for example, your television.
Contact us at 1 844 918-1020 to discover accommodation options available near you, or fill out a free accommodation request.
