The end of a Quebec financial assistance program, which aimed to allow private seniors (RPA) to do work to maintain their insurance policy and their certification, could lead to the closure of some of them, warns their association. An owner of the Quebec region, who recently acquired a residence, says that his project is now “in danger”.
The program in question, which has entered into force on 1is January 2022, was intended for RPA less than 250 housing units. There are about 1,200 of this type in the province.
As part of the program, an envelope of $ 52 million aimed at allowing these establishments to do modernization work. Among other things, these were renovations of electrical installations or heating and air conditioning systems “in order to improve its safety and reduce the risk of disaster”.
On March 31, Quebec, however, put an end to the program, which was initially to be in force until the end of the year. The document which established the guidelines provided, however, provided that the government could end it “at any time before December 31, 2025”, specifies the Ministry of Health and Social Services. “The current requests whose costs incurred had been authorized will be honored,” he adds.
The program was “little used” by private seniors for seniors, said the cabinet of the Minister responsible for seniors, Sonia Bélanger, to justify this decision.
The end of the program could however threaten the future of certain RPAs, estimates Hans Brouillette, director of government and public affairs of the Quebec grouping of seniors for seniors (RQRA). “The program disappears, but we continue to require new regulatory standards to have such type of equipment or installations. We are asked to do work, but without money, we will close, ”he deplores.
Increasing residents’ rent in order to finance renovations is not an option for RPA, he continues. “Several people who live there have reached their ability to pay,” he said.
A project “in danger”
A little over a year ago, Vanessa Vallerand, 38, carried out a project which was close to his heart: to become the owner of a RPA of fifteen housing units in the Quebec region. However, she says she cried by learning the end of the financial aid program about a month ago. “We jeopardize my project,” she said, sighing.
Mme Vallerand had already sent subsidy requests as part of the program, but she maintains that there were several others to do with it. “In all, I still have several hundred thousand dollars of work to be done on my very small building. These are all upgrading work compared to fire safety. »»
In her establishment, she welcomes people who suffer in particular from anxiety, neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s or who have intellectual disabilities. “Everyone has its share of particularities, which makes it complicated to relocate them elsewhere if it had to be done,” says the owner.
On the CHSLD side, they already have important waiting lists, she notes. As of March 31, 2025, 3133 people were waiting for a place in one of these establishments.
Despite everything, Vanessa Vallerand plans to “fight” to keep her RPA open. “I will always try to find solutions. »»
Concerns for the month of July
For his part, the director of government and public affairs of the RQRA also underlines the fact that as from July 15, several RPAs will have to have safety devices on the doors of their building. The purpose of this new measure is to prevent residents with wandering – like those with neurocognitive disorders – can leave the premises without the staff.
This obligation, which has been in force since December 2022, concerns category 3 and 4 RPA, for people with a more pronounced loss of autonomy. The time limit for complying with this requirement was however extended until July 2025 for category 3 residences.
In order to be able to acquire these security facilities, residences have used the financial aid program for modernization, mentions Mr. Brouillette. However, some RPAs had not yet made this type of request before the program ends.
Hans Brouillette therefore fears the deadline of July 15. “We could ultimately attend residence closings”. “It must be understood that it is not just an addition of installations. It will also take staff to go to checks when an alert at the doors will be triggered. »»
“Current discussions”
Called to react about the end of the financial aid program, the cabinet of Minister Bélanger writes that “discussions are underway with the regrouping of RPAs to work on their challenges”. “Our government has invested massively to limit the number of closures. He decreased halfway compared to last year, “he adds.
For its part, the Ministry of Health and Social Services claims that Quebec supports private elder residences using other measures. The 2025-2026 budget laid last March includes “an investment of $ 30 million over three years, in order to extend the financial assistance program for the installation of RPA nozzle until 2027,” he said.
“In addition, the program to reduce the impact of insurance premium increases in RPA and other targeted private entities will also be extended by one year,” said the ministry.
