In Quebec, the Home Support Service (SAD) is a public network body that brings together all housing applications for people with loss of autonomy.
It is responsible for admissions, decides on placement criteria and priorities and allocates suitable accommodation.
To learn more about access to housing for seniors within the public network, discover its types of housing, criteria and procedures.
Accessing Temporary Accommodation For the Elderly
In the public network, access to temporary accommodation is offered under different conditions:
- During a social emergency to ensure the security of the person. They will then be placed in transitional accommodation, the time to assess her situation.
- Rehabilitation: transition following a hospital stay if the person is not yet fit to return home.
- Respite for caregivers: the senior resides away from home to allow their loved one to rest for a short period.
To benefit from temporary accommodation for the elderly, the eldest must be experiencing a loss of autonomy. These stays are 3 weeks on average in the public network and cost $ 15 per day.
In addition, temporary accommodation provides various services throughout one’s the stay:
- Help with clothing
- Housekeeping, maintenance of bedding and clothing
- Meals and snacks
- Medication management
- Professional services (social worker)
- Medical and nursing care
- Activities and leisure
- Monitoring
The system for accessing temporary accommodation requires you to, first of all, contact a CIUSSS. They carry out an assessment with a healthcare professional to ensure that this type of accommodation is suitable for the individual.
Ways to Access Permanent Housing
Permanent housing is divided into three categories, depending on the level of autonomy:
Family-Friendly Options
Reserved for seniors with a slight loss of autonomy and independence, these public retirement homes for seniors in Quebec are akin to a natural living space. They can accommodate a maximum of 9 people and offer different services, such as:
- Help with clothing
- Medication management
- Meal and snack
- Hygiene assistance
- Housekeeping and maintenance of bedding and clothing
- Monitoring
To access it, you must send your file to the CIUSSS, which will assess your situation and the places available. Note that there are few family-friendly residences.
Intermediate Resources (IR)
Intermediate Resources are private establishments whose care is organized by CIUSSS. They accommodate people with an average loss of autonomy, requiring 1 to 3 hours of care per day. Various services are offered (activities, assistance, clothing, meals, cleaning, hygiene, surveillance, etc.).
To obtain a place in intermediate resource accommodation, you must contact your region’s CLSC. A social worker then draws up your file to assess your level of independence and the type of housing that would suit you.
Long-Term Care Accommodation Center (CHSLD)
This type of accommodation is intended for people with significant loss of autonomy and who require several hours of care per day. Many services are included (clothing, activities, hygiene, housekeeping, meals, professional health care, assistance, supervision) and the level of care is adapted to the needs of each person.
To obtain a place in a public CHSLD, the file must first be validated by a CLSC (assessment of the health condition and the possibility or not of maintaining one's accommodation). If the application is accepted, you are then added to a list while waiting for a place to become available.
A Long and Tedious Integration Process
The Home Support Service platform for accessing public accommodation suffers from many limitations that significantly affect many people in need. Here are a few examples :
Strict Admissibility Criteria
Access to public housing for seniors depends on your health condition and your level of independence. If your social worker considers that you can continue to live at home, you will not be able to apply for accommodation. Your application will only be accepted if you require significant health care, or if your current housing is no longer considered safe.
Significant Waiting Time
Once you are admitted through the Home Support Service platform, you are placed on the waiting list for a CHSLD. These are of indefinite duration and without the possibility for follow-up. Additionally, your ranking may change, even if you've been waiting for a while. Indeed, other people can be placed in priority if their case is considered more urgent than yours.
Limited Acceptance Time
When a residence is offered to you, you are given 24 hours to accept the offer and proceed with your admission. It is therefore not possible to think any longer, or to assess whether the home is right for you. In the event of refusal, your request may be deleted, except in special cases.
Canceled Requests
Several scenarios can actually lead to your request being canceled within the Home Support Service, such as :
- If you live at home and you refuse a transitional housing offer. The social worker may reapply, depending on your situation.
- If you are in hospital care and you refuse an offer of accommodation, you will then be forced to return home.
- If you are temporarily living in a private residence, the public network may consider your request to be non-urgent.
Limited Choice and Mobility
The public accommodation access network leaves you with little choice. It is not possible to contact or visit the different accommodations available. Therefore, you cannot decide on the conditions or the living environment of your new home.
If you currently reside in a public CHSLD and the location does not suit you, it is possible to request a change. However, your request will not be considered a priority, as you already have accommodation. You will therefore be on hold yet again.
Private Retirement Homes and CHSLDs: An Alternative to The Constraints of The Public Network
To respond to the limits of the network for accommodation access, many are turning to private residences.
The private network of retirement homes has the advantage of offering a wide variety of accommodation for the elderly (apartments for retirees, intermediate resources, CHSLDs, and Senior Retirement Homes). Although managed by private owners, they are certified by the Ministry of Health and Social Services.
You have the opportunity to choose from a wide variety of accommodations, regions, budgets and types of care and services. Moreover, waiting lists are reduced! The Home Support Service for accessing housing is therefore simplified and faster within the private network.
The costs of private retirement homes vary from home to home. They differ according to the location, the type of accommodation, the care offered and the services selected. However, you can benefit from the tax credit for home support assistance by living in a private residence.
Finally, if you wish to move into a retirement home while still being independent, some private retirement homes offer scalable care. This allows you to stay in the same place of residence, even as the first signs of a loss of autonomy appear.
Get Personalized Advice On Finding Suitable Accommodation
Are you looking for seniors' accommodation that offers care and services tailored to your needs? The Bonjour Résidences team offers free support in finding a suitable place to live that meets your criteria.
Complete an accommodation request form, or contact our team at +1 844-918-1020 to tell us about your situation and get information on how to access the private housing network.
