Québec Resources
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General Resources
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- Québec 211 - A directory of resources available for a wide range of topics, which can be filtered and searched.
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Health Resources
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Physical, emotional, cognitive, and mental well-being. Resources to prepare for support and services that may be required in the future to ensure a healthy future.
- Info-Santé 811 - A free and confidential telephone consultation service that puts you in contact with a nurse regarding a non-urgent health issue. The nurse will assess and respond to your needs, and then refer you to the appropriate resource for care. You can receive service in English or French.
- Info-Social 811 - A free and confidential telephone consultation service where you can call 811 to reach a psycosocial worker quickly if you are having a psychosocial problem. This is available 24 hours, 365 days a year. You can call for yourself, a family member, or friend.
- Optometric Services - If you are over the age of 65, optometric services are covered by the provincial health insurance plan. Examples of services include eye examinations, prescriptions of exercises to improve vision, prescriptions for eyeglasses or contact lenses, referrals to specialists, and eye examinations to obtain a driver's licence.
- Presctiption Drug Insurance - Upon turning 65, you are automatically registered with the Public Prescription Drug Insurance Plan, but you can choose to deregister if you have a private plan, or to receive both public and private coverage.
- Resources for Elders Directory - Lists with contact information for mental and physical health resources as well as home care. Resources: Integrated University Health and Social Services Centres for different regions, community based services, private home care, help lines and referrals, a phone line for violence against seniors, support for drug or alcohol abuse, help and support for families, specialized resources in cognitive disorders, and mental illness resources.
- Caregiver Support - Various resources for caregivers including a support helpline.
- 4Korners - A non profit organization that offers support for English speakers, including a Senior Wellness Center for physcial and mental health, and support and information sessions for caregivers. Click on the link and select your region to see what support is offered.
- CLSC (Local Community Service Centre) - CLSC locations and contact information by region. The CLSC provided frontline health and social services, along with rehabilitative services and public health activities.
- Programs and Services for Seniors - A list health, social, home, housing, transportation, justice, and financial services available to seniors in Quebec compiled by the government.
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Home Resources
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The ability to age in place in one’s own home and community, and to make changes to the home to support one’s needs as they age.
- Private Senior Residences - Privately owned housing for self sufficient and semi self sufficient seniors that can be rented. Services include meals, help with movement and daily activities, help with medications, nursing care, and other personal assistance.
- Financial Assistance Program for Domestic Help - This program allows you to receive a reduction in the hourly rate for domestic help services by social economy businesses, such as housekeeping, clothing upkeep, meal prep, and running errands. An application is required to obtain financial assistancce.
- Domestic Help Social Economy Businesses - A list of social economy businesses per region that can provide domestic help.
- Home Care - Home care services include medical, nursing, psychosocial, rehabilitation, domestic services, palliative care, bereavement support, caregiver services, and referrals to residential resources. After an evaluation, services are offered.
- Residential Adaptation Assistance Program - Individuals who are limited in carrying out daily activities can access financial assistance that allows their home to be modified. There are three options for assistance: professional assistance, which includes the support of an occupational therapist and certified inspector; self determiined needs and work, where the person chooses what work needs to be done from a list; and retroactive financial assistance, which involves financial support for eligible home adaptations.
- Long-Term Care Homes - Residences that offer 24 hour neursing care, help with daily activities, and high levels of personal care. There are 82 Long Term Care homes that can be filtered by region. Some are privately funded and some are unfunded.
- Regroupement Québecois des Résidences pour Ainés (Quebec Group of Residences for Seniors) - Managers of private housing establishments and nursing homes for seniors, with a directory of residences.
- Les Résidences Enharmonie - 10 seniors residences in Montreal for independent seniors. Residents have apartments, common areas, food, services, and activities.
- Popote Roulante (Meals on Wheels) - Hot meals, frozen meals, and mashed meals that can be delivered to a number of regions at minimal prices. Registration forms are provided online.
- La Cantine Pour Tous - Frozen meal delivery with a subsidized social pricing program which can be accessed by contacting the organization.
- Ready to Eat Meals - Ressources Communautaires Saint-Aldolphe provides ready to eat meals for citizens over the age of 55 with two meals per week for a total of $7. People in need can also receive free meals.
- Home Adaptation - If a traffic accident has caused a physical disability that prevents access to parts of your home, some costs may be reinbursed if adaptation projects are first authorized by the SAAQ.
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Transportation Resources
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Access to and modes of transportation to consider as one ages.
- Ambulance Transportation Exemption - Transportation to the hospital is free for individuals over 65 who have a medical condition requiring hospital care.
- State of Health and Driver's Licenses - Once driverse turn 75, they will have to complete a Self-Declaration of Medical Information form that is available on the linked webpage. At the age of 80 and every two years afterwards, medical examinations and vision tests are mandatory to maintain your drivers license. Forms will be sent to you 6 months before your birthday. Forms are also available on the linked webpage.
- Paratransit - The Paratransit is a form of public transit for handicapped people. They can also be accompanied for temporary or mandatory purposes. A list of eligibilty criteria and the procedure for applying to paratransit in your municipality is provided.
- Adapting a Vehicle for Mobility Impairments - If you can no longer drive or use a vehicle due to a physical disability, certain costs for adapting the vehicle may be reinbursed, whether you are a driver or passenger. There are different programs for reinbursment depending on whether or not the disability is a result of a traffic accident. The eligibility, conditions, and procedure for adapting a vehicle is outlined.
- Obtaining a Disabled Parking Permit - Anyone with a mobility impairment can obtain a disabled parking permit if they travel in a vehicle as a driver or passenger. A certificate that accompanies the permit must be carried all the time. A person must have a disability that results in a loss of independencce or risk to health and safety when travelling short distances without a vehicle. The Disabled Parking Permit Application is provided, which must be filled out by a health care professional.
- Coopé Régions - People over the age of 50 who live outside of Montreal and have to travel to Montreal for a medical appointment can receive accompaniment by a volunteer through this service, along with help in planning the stay and finding affordable accomodations during the stay.
- Accompanying Card - The Accompanying Card grants free passage to anyone accompanying someone with a disability through the intercity bus system in Québec. The accompanying person must be at least 14 years old and have the capacity to meet the needs of the disabled individual. An application form must be filled to receive a card, and cards must be renewed every five years.
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Finance Resources
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State of one’s finances and sources of income as they age. Resources to help make legal and financial decisions, financial planners, allowing someone else legal authority to manage one’s finances, etc.
- Grant for Seniors to Offset a Municipal Tax Increase - If you are a resident in Quebec aged 65 and over and have owned a single dwilling residence for at least 15 consecutive years, you may be eligible to receive a grant that offsets a municipal tax increase. Eligibility will depend on your family income and principal residency. A form to complete is provided.
- Senior Assistance Tax Credit - If you or your spouse was 70 or over on December 31, 2021 and a resident in Quebec, you may be eligible to receive upto $800 given that your family income is less than a certain amount that depends on your spouse's situation.
- Non-Refundable Tax Credit - You can claim a non-refundable tax credit if you or your spouse was born before January 1, 1957; you live alone or only with minors; or you or your spousse received eligible retirement income.
- Severe and Prolonged Impairment Tax Credit - If you have had severe oand prolonged mental or physical impairment, or a diminished ability to accomplish basic activities due to chronic illness, you can claim an amount that will reduce your tax payable.
- Independent Living Tax Credit for Seniors - If you are a resident of Quebec and over the age of 70, and have paid for your place of residence or a stay in a functional rehabilitation transition unit, you may be able to receive a refundable tax credit.
- Tax Credit for Seniors' Activities - If you live in Quebec and are over the age of 70, and were part of physical, artisitc, cultural or recreational activities, you may be able to get a credit equal to 20% of the total fees paid upto $40. You need to keep the receipt to receive the credit.
- Private Seniors' Residence Tax Credit - A basic amount is given to seniors who pay rent in a private seniors' residence, with minimum and maximum amounts based on each service provided by the residence. The limit spans from 65% to 80% of your rent.
- Tax Credit for Career Extension - If you are a retiree who rejoins the workforce, you can claim a tax credit which vaires with your work income.
- Retirement Pension - Seniors over the age of 60 who have contributed to the Quebec Pension Plan for at least 1 year can start receiving their retirement pension. This webpage has links that cover eligibility, when you should apply, how the amount is calculated and paid, additional amount for disability, and factors to consider before applying for your retirement pension.