Sonia Bélanger, Minister Responsible for Seniors and Minister Delegate for Health, announced on January 31st the funding of a new program for Private Seniors’ Residences (RPA) with care units, aimed at curbing closures and maintaining housing supply for seniors in Québec.
A sum of $200 million over five years will allow for the deployment, across Québec, of the personalized allowance, a new measure implemented in collaboration with the Regroupement québécois des résidences pour aînés (RQRA) and the Réseau québécois des OSBL d’habitation (RQOH).
This measure will allow RPAs that offer services, such as bathing assistance or medication administration, to receive a fixed monthly allowance, based on the needs of residents.
This allowance will be calculated based on an hourly rate, which will itself be determined according to a framework developed in concert with sector partners. Ultimately, over 650 RPAs will be able to benefit from it.
This is a flagship measure to enable seniors to age in place and support RPAs weakened by the current economic climate. The CISSS and CIUSSS will be responsible for the progressive deployment of this new program.
In addition to helping RPAs, this could result in a reduction in residents’ financial contributions, as the government will pay for a portion of the services that meet their needs.
The initiative first began last fall for an initial test phase in RPAs in five Québec regions. The objective was to define the program’s standards and thus ensure its sustainability, as well as partner adherence.
Following the success of this initial phase and positive feedback from participating RPAs, deployment across all Québec regions will begin in the coming weeks, continuing until late next spring. In recent years, over $610 million has been invested to help RPAs. The personalized allowance measure is an addition to this.
At the request of RPAs, professionals in their establishments will now be able to assess residents and identify their needs, which will significantly reduce assessment times.
QUOTES:
« This new measure aligns with our government’s commitment to help RPAs and prevent closures, which are very destabilizing for seniors. As soon as I took office, I wanted to act to curb the current trend and deploy the right tools to help RPAs continue their mission. What we are implementing will prevent many seniors from having to move, from being uprooted from their living environment and often their community, and will reduce their financial burden. This contributes to seniors aging in place, an important objective of our government with our shift towards home care initiated in recent months. We will continue our work to ensure the sustainability of the RPA model, with the strong collaboration of various partners. » – Sonia Bélanger, Minister Responsible for Seniors and Minister Delegate for Health
« We are pleased with the development of these new initiatives, particularly the new national allowance framework, but also the possibility for our professionals to conduct service needs assessments, thereby avoiding delays and the complexity of regional implementations. Over the past decade, a series of regulatory obligations, an explosion of costs and rampant inflation, a labor shortage, all coupled with the pandemic and a significant rise in interest rates, have forced the closure of over 1,000 RPAs. Minister Sonia Bélanger fully understands the situation and wants to ensure a variety of living environments are maintained for seniors. » – Marc Fortin, President and CEO of the RQRA
« Today’s announcement will bring relief to many seniors residing in small community RPAs of 30 units or less. These individuals, who are for the most part the most vulnerable in Québec, will gain peace of mind by receiving the services they need and are entitled to. At the same time, this measure will lighten the financial burden on these small residences. This is a good first step which, we can only hope, will be extended to all community RPAs that provide services and to all their residents. » – André Castonguay, Director of the Réseau québécois des OSBL d’habitation
HIGHLIGHTS:
For the first phase of deployment, the measure targets Category 3 and 4 RPAs, with 30 housing units or less, offering care units.
Financial aid programs already underway for RPAs:
Financial Aid Program for Sprinkler System Installation ($212.67 M)
–Aid Program for the Modernization of Facilities in certain RPAs ($52 M)
-Salary Transition Program for Care Staff in RPAs ($347.4 M), with an enhancement of $18.6 M in 2023-2024 and $2.7 M in 2026-2027
SOURCE Office of the Minister Responsible for Seniors and Minister Delegate for Health
Alain St-Jean
Licensed Real Estate Broker, DA – Residential and Commercial
Équipe Alain St-Jean inc.
📞 450-634-4774
📧 Alain@RPAaVendre.com