Quebec: Seniors & Those With Disabilities - More Needs To Be Done!**

January 31, 2026 - Posted by: Allan Gold - In category: Elder Law, Health - No responses

Gold’s Legal Minute*GLM*

By Allan Gold, lawyer Montreal and elder law attorney

Vol. 17, #1 – January 31, 2026

OPENING

This is about seniors & those with Disabilities, choosing to stay in their own homes as they age. On Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026, the Quebec government announced a new home health-care policy. The Quebec government is increasing funding to programs, aiming to support more seniors to live at home, with CLSCs acting as the primary entry point for services.

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Health Minister Sonia Bélanger at a news conference in Montreal Thursday Sept. 29 2026 r said,”With this policy, we choose to offer services and care tailored to people’s actual needs in order to support their autonomy, safety and quality of life…” 1

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STARTING POINT

Knowing what terms mean is the correct place to start.

Definitions

“Aging in Place” – The most widely used term for seniors choosing to stay in their own homes as they age.
“Loss of Autonomy” – Often used in medical or administrative contexts (particularly in Quebec) to describe individuals who can no longer perform all daily tasks independently.

“Homebound” – A term for seniors who are physically unable to leave their home without significant assistance.

Fact Sheet: Essential Information

In-Home Care and Personal Services”

This is about professional help for daily tasks, often funded partially through government programs. Suich includes the following:

Personal Hygiene & Care: Assistance with bathing, showering, dressing, grooming, hygiene.and oral care.
Nursing & Health Care: Nursing care, occupational therapy, and nutrition. Possibly medication management, wound care, and specialized care (Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s.
Rehabilitation Services: Occupational therapy (for assessing home modifications) and physiotherapy.
Domestic Help: Housekeeping, laundry, and meal preparation (e.g., Meals on Wheels).
Respite Care: Support to give caregivers a break, including day centers.
Home renovations and installations: Financial aid may be available to adapt the home for safety through municipal or provincial programs.

Process to Open a Case (Soutien à domicile)

Initial Contact: Call local CLSC (Centre local de services communautaires) and ask for the Soutien à domicile (Home Support) department, often listed under Soutien à l’autonomie des personnes âgées (SAPA).
Assessment: A healthcare professional (case manager) will visit the home to assess the level of care needed (e.g., nursing, home help, physiotherapy).
Waiting Times: Services are not immediate; expect a waiting period, typically 2-8 weeks for non-urgent needs.
Eligibility: Services are based on the loss of autonomy and, while often low-cost, some services may be charged depending on the assessment.
Telephone 811 for immediate, non-urgent assistance in finding resources.
Be aware from get go
- That if it’s an emergency, say so! That it’s not immediate – instead it will take time even quite a while.
- That every so often call and give an update
- That in the event of a decline, raise issue of specialized services or relocation to a public facility

Financial Aid

Home Autonomy Allowance (formerly the Direct Allowance Program/Chèque Emploi-Service)

Quebec provides financial assistance to caregivers looking after seniors at home. The rate ranges from $18-$21 per hour.
Administered through local CLSCs
Allows seniors to hire caregivers (including family members, in some cases) to assist with daily living, allowing for 10-40 hours of support per week.
Contact your local CLSC (Centre local de services communautaires) for an evaluation of needs.

Tax Credit for Caregivers

Individuals providing care to a loved one with a severe or prolonged impairment can claim a tax credit (up to $1,494 in 2025). Revenu Québec processes the tax-based credits upon filing annual tax returns.

Tax Credit for Home-Support Services for Seniors,

The province offers a refundable Tax Credit for Home-Support Services for seniors 70+ and specific tax credits for family caregivers providing care.

Tax Credit for Home-Support Services for Seniors: Seniors aged 70 or older living in Quebec can claim a refundable tax credit for eligible home care expenses, which can be up to 37% or 39% of expenses (up to $7,605–$9690/$9,945 annually), prior to January 26, 2026.
Covers services like housekeeping, meals, and personal care, with options for advance payments
Eligible services based on your place of residence
- - - Own house
    - Private seniors’ residence (including a private CHSLD that is not under agreement)
    - Apartment building
    - Owned Condominium
    - Etc.
Eligibility requirements. You may be entitled to the tax credit for home-support services for seniors if you meet the following conditions on December 31, 2025:
- You were resident in Québecl AND
- You were 70 or over. (Okay if If turned 70 during year, Covered – expenses for home-support services rendered after Age 70.
Revenu Québec processes the tax-based credits upon filing annual tax returns.2

National Home Support Policy (PSAD), titled “Better at Home,”

Quebec has just launched its new National Home Support Policy (PSAD), titled “Better at Home.”

The need is for seniors and people with physical disabilities to live at home as long as possible. To make this happen, government is making some improvements to the program. It will be making a total investment of $107.2 million dollars. The key changes are as follows:

Key changes
- Total budget for the caregiver allowance is being increased by $1.1 million immediately, with additional funding of $22.2 million planned for next year.
- Expansion of eligibility. Some family caregivers, previously ineligible for compensation, will be recognized as service providers.
- Salary. Hourly compensation amount is being increased by $1 to $21.
- CLSCs will now be the entry point for people looking for compensation

ANALYSIS

Of course, more is better. But this isn’t enough. At this junction, I don’t perceive a real improvement to the program. It should be easier for caregivers to become registered and get paid. That would accelerate care for those needing this hands-on assistance.

COMMENTARY

From the information currently found, I determined

That benefits to caregivers.would not be retroactive
That this doesn’t seem enough – Require substantive improvements for those in need
That saying it’s ‘extremely complex’ or “depends on individual needs” leaves people wondering about who are beneficiaries, qualification for payees for services rendered, start date of this remuneration
That if CLSC is to be point of entry, must question whether these institutions will be capable, suitable, and effective in this regard

NOTEWORTHY

Allan J Gold is now featured in FeedSpot Top 90 Canada Law Blogs. Check it out at https://bloggers.feedspot.com/canada_law_blogs/

As well, Allan J Gold can be found at https://www.lexblog.com/site/allan-j-gold-blog/

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“There are only four kinds of people in the world: Those who have been caregivers. Those who are currently caregivers. Those who will be caregivers, and those who will need a caregiver.” – Rosalyn Carter 3

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CONCLUSION

Quebec’s health care network isn’t perfect. But we still appreciate having it. Quebec’s home health-care program leaves a lot to be desired. As a lawyer Montreal, elder law attorney, I say, “The Quebec health network is strained to the limits under its current burden and reduced funding. For the better functioning of the system, it‘s necessary for Quebecers to live at home longer. It’s also the preference of many seniors & those with disabilities. We just need to do more for them.”

ALLAN J. GOLD, lawyer Montreal, elder law attorney.

www.allanjgold.com

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NOTICE – CAUTION –DISCLAIMER. The material provided herein is of a general nature, strictly for informational purposes. The interpretation and analysis is not to be misapplied to a personal situation with a particular set of facts. Under no circumstances, are the herein suggestions and tips, intended to bring a reader to the point of acting or not acting, but instead, the hope is that they are to be a cause for pause and reflection. It is specifically declared that this content is not to be a replacement of, or a substitution for, legal or any other appropriate advice. To the contrary, for more information on these presents, related subjects or any other questions, it is the express recommendation of the author that everyone seek out and consult a qualified professional or competent adviser.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/groups-home-care-9.7066863
https://www.revenuquebec.ca/en/citizens/tax-credits/tax-credit-for-home-support-services-for-seniors/
https://www.caringbridge.org/resources/inspirational-quotes-on-caregiving

Tags: #health, #In-Home Care and Personal Services

Allan J Gold

Lawyer

Quebec: Seniors & Those With Disabilities – More Needs To Be Done!**