Coping with a Loss of Independence

This guide describes the programs and services offered to individuals coping with a loss of independence caused primarily by ageing or an illness.

Access to your medical record (in French only)
Information from the Commission d’accès à l’information du Québec

All individuals can view the content of their medical record held by an institution in the public-sector health and social services network and private-sector enterprises.

To request access to a medical or social record, or to obtain a copy of it, a request must be submitted to the person responsible for the protection of personal information in the institution or establishment holding the file.

Advance medical directives

Persons of full age may specify in advance the medical care that they agree or refuse to receive if they become incapable of expressing their wishes.

Consent to medical care 
Information from Éducaloi

Except in emergency situations, a health professional must obtain the patient’s consent before giving care. The patient has the right to accept or refuse any medical procedure or to be accommodated in a health institution.

Devices that compensate for a physical deficiency 
Administered by the Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ)

The Program for Devices That Compensate for a Physical Deficiency covers the cost of purchase, replacement and repair of technical aids that compensate for a person’s motor deficiency. The devices covered by the program are:

• orthoses
• prostheses
• ambulation aid (such as a cane)
• standing aids
• locomotor assists (such as a wheelchair)
• posture assists (devices that support the body in a seated position to help the individual use a locomotor assist).

Hearing aids
Administered by the Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ)

The Hearing Devices Program covers the cost of purchase, repair and replacement of hearing or assistive listening devices, under certain conditions. 

Info-Santé 811
Service offered by the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux

Info-Santé 811 is a free, confidential telephone consultation service. By calling 811, individuals can speak with a health professional at any time for advice or information for themselves or for a family member about a health issue considered non-urgent.

Info-Social 811
Service offered by the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux

Info-Social 811 is a free, confidential telephone consultation service allowing callers to seek advice from a psychosocial intervention worker for themselves or for a family member.

Ostomy Appliances Program 
Administered by the Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ)

This program provides a lump-sum payment to individuals who have undergone a permanent or temporary colostomy, ileostomy or urostomy for the purchase or replacement of the appliances they need.

Québec Health Booklet 
Administered by the Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ)

This service provides on-line access to health information. Through it, individuals can consult information such as:

• the list of medications entered on their record at the pharmacy
• their medical imaging examination reports (e.g., echography, x-ray)
• their sampling results (e.g., blood tests, urine tests).

Visual aids 
Administered by the Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ)

The Visual Devices Program is for individuals who have a permanent visual impairment that prevents them to read, write or carry out activities. Through the program, they can borrow reading, writing and mobility aids and can receive financial assistance for acquiring and caring for a guide dog.

Zero-rated medical and assistive devices 
Administered by Revenu Québec

Certain devices used to treat illnesses or reduce the effects of a disability or impairment are zero-rated (no GST or QST added). Some devices are unconditionally zero-rated, whereas others are zero-rated only if supplied under prescription.

Admission of an adult to a residential centre or public residence 
Information from local community service centres (CLSC)

An individual whose autonomy has diminished due to ageing or physical or mental incapacity may be admitted to a residential and long-term care centre (CHSLD), a senior and alternative housing, an intermediate resource or a family-type resource.  Individuals who wish to apply for accommodation for themselves or for a family member can contact their nearest local community services centre (CLSC).

Termination of a lease 
Information from the Tribunal administratif du logement 

Lessees may cancel a current lease in certain situations, for example, if they are allocated a dwelling in low-rental housing, can no longer occupy their dwelling because of a disability or are admitted permanently to a place of accommodation providing the care or services required by their health.

Financial contribution payable by an adult entrusted to an intermediate resource 
Administered by the Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ)

The government requires a financial contribution from adults entrusted to an intermediate resource (e.g., a supervised apartment) to pay the expenses related to their room and board.  

Individuals may apply for a review if they disagree with the contribution amount established by the RAMQ.

Financial contribution payable by an adult lodged in a health and social services facility 
Administered by the Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ)

A financial contribution is payable by individuals lodged in a Québec healthcare facility. This contribution is used by the government to pay the expenses related to their room and board. 

Individuals may apply for a reduction of their contribution if they consider that they are unable to pay the amount established by the RAMQ.

Residential Adaptation Assistance Program
Administered by the Société d’habitation du Québec

The program provides financial assistance to the owner of a dwelling occupied by a person with a disability to carry out adaptation work so that the person can enter and leave the dwelling, access the essential rooms and perform activities of everyday life safely. The program is suspended for 2024-2025, but new applications are accepted. They will be processed in the order received as soon as new funding for the program is announced.

Absences for family or parental obligations 
Information from the Commission des normes, de l’équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail

Generally, workers are entitled to a certain number of days of leave, paid or not, to fulfill obligations relating to the health of a relative or a person for whom they act as an informal caregiver. Workers must notify their employer as soon as possible of their absence.

Compensation for bodily injury  
Administered by the Commission des normes, de l’équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail

Workers who have suffered a permanent physical or psychological impairment as a result of an employement injury may be entitled to a compensation for bodily injury.

Disability benefits
Administered by Retraite Québec

Individuals under age 65 whose health has permanently deteriorated to the point that they can no longer work may be entitled to disability benefits if they have contributed to the Québec Pension Plan.

Income replacement indemnity following an employment injury 
Administered by the Commission des normes, de l’équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail

Individuals who remain unable to carry on their employment following an work accident or occupational disease may be entitled to an income replacement indemnity.

Pensions from a foreign country
Administered by Retraite Québec

A worker who is making or has made contributions to a country that has signed a social security agreement with Québec may be entitled to a disability pension from this country.

Reimbursement of expenses resulting from an employment injury 
Administered by the Commission des normes, de l’équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail

An individual who sustains an work accident or occupational disease does not generally have to assume the expenses arising from the injury.

The individual may also receive medical treatments or care at home or be reimbursed expenses tied to the purchase of medicines. 

Work accident or occupational disease 
Administered by the Commission des normes, de l’équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail

When an accident occurs or a disease is caused by the work of the employee, the employer must be notified as soon as possible and a physician consulted.

Individuals who are unable to work because of such an injury must then present a medical certificate to their employer. If they are absent for more than 14 days they can apply for an income replacement indemnity.

Assistance measure
Administered by the Curateur public du Québec

The assistance measure allows a person living with a difficulty to receive assistance from one or two people of their choice. The assistants help the person concerned make decisions, exercise their rights and manage their property.

Compensation for victims of a criminal offence 
Administered by the Commission des normes, de l’équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail et l’Indemnisation des victimes d’actes criminels (IVAC)

An individual who is a crime victim may receive benefits aimed at compensating for the injury sustained. It may be financial assistance to compensate for a loss of income or for expenses paid for rehabilitation services.

Compensation following an act of good citizenship
Administered by the Commission des normes, de l’équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail et l’Indemnisation des victimes d’actes criminels (IVAC)

An individual who has sustained injuries or property damage by voluntarily going to the assistance of another person whose life is in danger or who is in danger of bodily harm may receive financial assistance to compensate for a loss of income or for expenses paid for rehabilitation services.

Power of attorney 
Information from the Ministère de la Justice

Power of attorney is a contract through which an individual authorizes another individual to carry out everyday administrative tasks, in particular, to pay bills, sign an apartment lease or a contract to sell a house. 

Protection mandate
Administered by the Curateur public du Québec

Formerly known as mandate in case of incapacity, the protection mandate is a document in which an individual expresses their wishes and names one or more trusted people to look after their person and their property should they become incapable. The mandate comes into effect only after having been homologated by a court.

Representation measures
Administered by the Curateur public du Québec

When a loved one’s situation requires applying to the court for their legal representation, the solutions provided by law are the following: temporary representation, homologation of the protection mandate and tutorship.

Search for a protection mandate by the Barreau du Québec 
Service offered by the Barreau du Québec

A search for a protection mandate is conducted to verify whether an individual presumed to be incapacitated has drawn up a protection mandate or whether the mandate left by the individual is indeed the most recent one. This search must be performed by the Barreau du Québec and by the Chambre des notaires, which have separate registers.

Search for a protection mandate by the Chambre des notaires du Québec 
Service offered by the Chambre des notaires du Québec

A search for a protection mandate is conducted to verify whether an individual presumed to be incapacitated has drawn up a protection mandate or whether the mandate left by the individual is indeed the most recent one. This search must be performed by the Chambre des notaires and by the Barreau du Québec, which have separate registers.

Domestic help 
Administered by the Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ)

The Financial Assistance Program for Domestic Help Services enables individuals to receive a reduction in the hourly rate charged when they use domestic help services. The services must be provided by a social economy business recognized by the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux.

Home care support  (in French only)
Services offered by local community service centres (CLSCs)

Home care support services are offered to individuals who are losing their independence or have a physical or intellectual disability. Certain services are also available to these individuals’ informal caregivers. Home care support services may be provided on a temporary or long-term basis, depending on the individual’s needs. Applications for home care support services must be placed with the local community services centre (CLSC) in the individual’s region.

Meals on wheels (Popote roulante) (in French only)
Service offered by the Regroupement des popotes roulantes

Meals on Wheels is a service that delivers healthy and nutritious meals at an affordable cost. The service is intended for seniors and individuals with a loss of independance. 

Amount for a severe and prolonged impairment in mental or physical functions 
Administered by Revenu Québec

This amount is a non-refundable tax credit granted to individuals with a severe impairment that seriously limits the performance of their daily activities.

Independent living tax credit for seniors
Administered by Revenu Québec

This refundable tax credit is paid to individuals age 70 and older who incurred expenses for the purchase, lease or installation of eligible equipment in their principal place of residence. It may, for example, be a remote monitoring device, a walk-in bath or a hospital bed. The credit can also be granted to seniors who have stayed in accommodation offering re-education and rehabilitation services after hospitalization.

Social assistance and social solidarity
Administered by the Ministère de l’Emploi et de la Solidarité sociale

Financial assistance is available to low-income individuals who are unable to provide for their basic needs. The Social Solidarity Program is for individuals who have a severely limited capacity for employment. The Social Assistance Program is for individuals who have a temporarily limited capacity for employment. 

Tax credit for caregivers 
Administered by Revenu Québec

There are two components to this refundable tax credit. The first is for caregivers providing care to a person 18 or over who has a severe and prolonged impairment in mental or physical functions and needs assistance in carrying out a basic activity of daily living. The second is for caregivers providing care to and living with a relative 70 or over.

Tax credit for home-support services for seniors
Administered by Revenu Québec

This tax credit is for individuals age 70 and older. It is a refundable tax credit based on certain expenses incurred to obtain home-support services. Such services include personal care services (nursing care, hygiene, etc.) or maintenance services with regard to a dwelling (housekeeping, minor exterior maintenance, etc.).

Tax credit for medical expenses
Administered by Revenu Québec

Individuals who pay medical expenses for themselves, their spouse or for a dependent may benefit from this tax credit. Individuals may, under certain conditions, be entitled to a non-refundable or refundable credit.

Disabled parking permit
Service offered by the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ)

Individuals may request a disabled parking permit if, because of their disability, they are unable to move about on short distances without a risk to their health and safety. A disabled parking permit gives the individual access to parking spaces reserved for persons with disabilities, whether travelling in a vehicle as the driver or a passenger.

Indemnities for bodily injury sustained as a result of a traffic accident 
Administered by the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ)

The public automobile insurance plan provides financial compensation for bodily injury sustained following a traffic accident. An individual injured in a traffic accident may thereby receive income replacement indemnity, compensation for injuries and sequelae as well as the reimbursement of certain expenses incurred following the accident.

Paratransit service 
Service offered by public transit organizations or municipalities

The objective of paratransit is to favour the social, school and workplace integration of handicapped persons. Only individuals with disabilities that significantly compromise their mobility are eligible for the service.

Purchasing or adapting a vehicle for an individual with a mobility impairment 
Administered by the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ)

A person who can no longer drive or use a vehicle because of a physical disability, may be entitled to the reimbursement for certain costs incurred to adapt a vehicle, regardless of whether or not they are the driver. 

State of health and Driver’s licences 
Administered by the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ)

In Québec, all drivers must meet the requirements related to state of health and eyesight. They are also required to inform the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec of any change that could negatively impact their ability to drive. In addition, the holder of a licence to drive an automobile who reaches the age of 75 must declare their medical condition by completing a medical self-declaration form.

At age 80, and every two years thereafter, the licence holder must undergo a medical examination as well as an eye examination. More frequent medical checks may be required, however, depending on the declaration submitted.

Taxe rebates on an adapted automobile or an automatic door opener
Administered by Revenu Québec

A person with a disability who purchases or leases an adapted automobile may receive a partial rebate of the goods and services tax (GST) and the Québec sales tax (QST). It is also possible to apply for a rebate of the QST paid to purchase and install an automatic garage door opener.

• Guide Programs and Services for Seniors
• Information for caregivers  - Biblio-Aidants (in French only)
• Preventing deconditioning in seniors during the pandemic
• People with disabilities