CLSC home support is also offered in private retirement homes

Living in a private retirement home: A way to live independently, like apartment living, with the possibility of receiving home support offered by the government.

First, it’s important to mention that home support services can be offered either by the retirement home directly or by the CLSC’s home support department. Apartments in private residences are considered a “home” in their own right and therefore, the home support services offered by the CLSC (Centre local de services communautaires) can be received there.

Snapshot of the current situation
Private retirement homes rent apartments to about 10% of Quebec’s senior population. These residents, who are considered to be living at home within the residence, sometimes need assistance with certain day-to-day tasks, such as meal preparation, medication management and hygiene.

An estimated 8.4% of seniors living at home (be it in a retirement home or in their own house or apartment) use at least one of these services.

All type of living arrangements combined, currently 4.6% of seniors have home needs that are not met. Most are on a waiting list.

Home support services offered by retirement homes vs. CLSCs

In retirement homes: When the services are offered by the retirement home, the resident receives those services at the same time, from the same staff member, be it for house cleaning or bathing assistance. It’s reassuring to receive services from the same person, always at the same time. These services offered by the retirement home may be included in the rental contract or may be charged individually at variable rates. The money paid for these services is eligible for Revenu Québec’s tax credit for home support services for seniors.

CLSC: To get the free home support services offered by the CLSC, a request must be made to the local CLSC. The professional staff there begin by triaging the needs. The level of urgency of the person’s situation will determine how long it takes to get the services. This can vary between one week and several months. For instance, a senior living alone, without any family, will be given priority over a senior who receives help from loved ones.

Unlike the services offered by a retirement home, the CLSC’s home support services are given by multiple employees and at varying times of the day.

These services are free however, representing substantial savings for seniors who want to live in a retirement home but have a limited budget.

Investments in home support by the Legault government in 2021

The Quebec government recently announced an investment of $750 million over five years to expand home support by 20%. Seniors account for 70% of the users of these services. The government’s investment responds to a need to live at home for as long as possible while maintaining as much independence as possible.

Reducing the strain on Quebec’s social housing network

By 2028, Quebec’s population aged 65+ will increase by 578,000. This massive influx of people into the senior cohort will require a significant increase in the home support offered.

Quebec has one of the world’s most rapidly aging populations. Given this situation, increasing home support services will relieve the hospital system and the CHSLD network, both of which are already overloaded.

Professor Michèle Charpentier of the school of social work at UQAM says, “Communities that offer more home services that follow the person over a longer period have the winning formula!”

Tax credit for home support
There is financial assistance available to help as many seniors as possible to benefit from home support services. The Tax Credit for Home-Support Services for Seniors offers a reimbursement of 35% of eligible expenses for such services. Anyone aged 70 or more and who, as of December 31 of each year, resided in the province and needed services, can apply for this credit, whether or not they pay taxes.

Source: Le Devoir: https://www.ledevoir.com/politique/quebec/606120/quebec-investissement-public-pour-soins-a-domicile