The waiting list for placement in the CHSLD Estrie

The recent media coverage surrounding long-term care centres (CHSLDs) gives us a good indication of the number of people waiting for to be placed in housing: the waiting lists are let’s just say…long.
Across all of Quebec, more than 3551 people with significant loss of autonomy are waiting to be placed in a public CHSLD for chronic or continuous care.

The CHSLDs are the second most sought-after type of housing for seniors (20,5%).

 

Figure (available in French only) taken from: Chapitre 1 L’hébergement privé et les soins aux aînés : l’exemple du Québec

Shortage of spots in public CHSLDs in Estrie
While the media estimates that the 26 CHSLDs in the Estrie region are filled to their maximum capacities, there are 188 people who have requested to be placed in a CHSLD in Estrie and are waiting for accommodations for the 2016-2017 year. Included in these requests are:

• 67 people who still live at home
• 56 people who are in the hospital
• 9 people are being housed in intermediate and family-type accommodations
• 8 people are in CHSLDs

The other 48 people are staying in Transitional Functional Recovery Units (UTRF in French) or in private seniors residences (RPA in French), etc. Last year, there were 136 people who were waiting to be placed in a CHSLD in the Estrie region. In 2014, these establishments had 41,815 spots available for those with a substantial loss of autonomy, with 1,495 of them in Estrie. Too many people waiting to be placed in appropriate accommodations means taking up a hospital bed when they don’t have to. This happens because there aren’t enough spots available in care facilities or rehabilitation centres. Consequently, this increases the wait times in hospitals.
Sherbrooke and Granby are the cities in the Estrie region with the fewest spots available.

In order to reduce the backlog in hospitals, Minister Barrette will create 1,472 new spots in CHSLDs or in intermediate resources (I.R.) for seniors. Here you can see how those who are currently in a hospital and are waiting for a spot to open up in a CHSLD in Estrie are dispersed:

• 24 – CHUS – Hôtel Dieu (Sherbrooke)
• 6 – CHUS – Hôpital Fleurimont (Sherbrooke)
• 6 – Hôpital de Magog
• 8 – Hôpital Brome-Missisquoi-Perkins (Cowansville)
• 4 – Hôpital d’Asbestos
• 7 – Hôpital de Granby
• 1 – Outside of the Estrie region

Private residences and private CHSLDs: a temporary solution for the shortage of spots available in public CHSLDs

Finding accommodation in a private CHSLD or in an assisted living retirement home (the equivalent of private intermediate resources) could be a temporary solution while waiting for a spot to open up in public accommodations.

A Résidences Québec housing counsellor can help you with your search. The government also created a tax credit for those aged 70 and up for in-home care. You can reach a housing counsellor in the Estrie region for guidance through this process and it’s always free*.

*Housing counsellors are paid via the résidences privées accréditées network and by the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux du Québec.

Sources:

Publications du ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux

CHOUINARD, Tommy. « Hébergement, réadaptation et convalescence: Québec ajoute 2100 places », La Presse, 7 décembre 2016.

ORFALI, Philippe. « Québec crée 1472 nouvelles places en CHSLD », Le Devoir, 8 décembre 2016.