On Sunday, the government gave the kick-off in good and due form to its Quebec Observatory of Caregivers, which will aim to better understand the challenges faced by caregivers, or about one in five Quebecers.

Composed of 13 experts, the Observatory has already held a few meetings, but it was officially appointed on Sunday by a president for its management committee in the person of Sylvie Constantineau, president of the Association québécoise des parents et amis de the person with mental illness.

This new organization – “unique in the world” according to the Minister of Seniors and Caregivers Marguerite Blais – should serve to make life easier for caregivers.

“The observatory will not only do research and apply it in the field, but we have our costed action plan. There are sums of money that accompany it, “said the minister when announcing the appointment of Ms. Constantineau at a press briefing on Sunday.

To succeed in simplifying the lives of caregivers, the Observatory must, above all, go out to meet them.

“It is important to understand who these people are. […] You have to meet them, understand what is going on, their needs, their desires”, explained the scientific director of the Observatory, Dr Olivier Beauchet.

“The observatory is a solver. He will take an interest in people's problems, understand them and co-build solutions with caregivers," he added.

At the same time, Minister Blais also filled the management positions of the Committee of Partners concerned by the support of caregivers, a group of 17 members responsible for “formulating recommendations or opinions to the Minister [of Proches caregivers]”.