Quebec fails to provide the services required for seniors with a great loss of autonomy, whether in CHSLDs or at home, deplores the Auditor General's report. Without a change of direction, the aging of the population will worsen the situation.

• Read also: Protective equipment during the pandemic: Quebec acted more than a month late

The Department of Health established in 2006 that an average of 1,962 hours per year is required to meet the needs of this clientele.

Yet, in 2020-2021, only 692 hours were provided, of which only 288 were in direct care.

And 2020-21 was already a better year than previous ones, with time spent with this clientele more than doubling since 2015-2016.

“We have found that the current and planned long-term care offer does not allow us to reach the level of services required for all seniors with a great loss of autonomy,” explained Guylaine Leclerc at a press conference.

"In fact, these seniors have had problems accessing long-term accommodation for many years, and the level of services offered to them is currently insufficient, both in CHSLDs and in home support," said she added.

Quebec sails on sight

More surprisingly, Quebec has not assessed its needs for residential care for seniors for nearly 15 years, notes the VG.

"Nor did it define how it would reorganize and fund long-term care in the context of the shift to home support," she wrote. Finally, if the service offer is not improved, seniors with a great loss of autonomy will not all have access to public long-term care in the coming years or to a sufficient intensity of services.

To meet the needs in 2028, the AG estimates that Quebec will have to devote nearly $2 billion more.

An assessment was indeed carried out in 2018 to create the Seniors' Houses, but this only assesses the needs until 2028.

Home Care

The Auditor's findings lead the Parti Québécois to say that the Legault government is missing the mark with the construction of seniors' homes.

“We must stop the deployment of seniors' homes, a financial abyss. Home care with the CAQ has been nothing but lip service from the start,” said MP Lorraine Richard.