Having the support of a home care agency can give seniors the flexibility to age in place, avoiding the need for premature institutionalization and allowing them to benefit from the well-documented social and financial benefits that come with aging at home. Unlike traditional care homes, home care services offer personalized services tailored to each client’s unique needs and can be delivered in the comfort of their own home. Home care services can range from light housekeeping and companionship to more complex tasks such as bathing, grooming, medication management, and meal preparation.

A Montreal home care service provider will start by taking a thorough assessment of the senior’s unique situation and preferences to determine what type of assistance they need. Then, the agency will pair the senior with a caregiver who is qualified to provide the required services and will meet them in their home for an initial consultation. Depending on the level of care, costs will vary. Home care assistants, for instance, cost between $20 and $30 per hour while registered nurses charge between $40 and $69 an hour. A full-time live-in caregiver can be expected to cost $1,900 to $3,500 a month, plus room and board.

Many seniors wish to remain in their own homes and community as they age, but some may not have the physical or mental resources needed to live independently. This is when a private care home becomes an option. These homes are privately owned and operated and offer residential and long term care. They are also known as retirement homes, and they cater to seniors who can still manage their own affairs but need help with daily tasks such as meal planning, bathing and dressing.

While the Quebec government subsidizes the operating costs of these residences, the cost can still be prohibitive for many families. Furthermore, reports from the ombudsman’s office indicate that some of these care centres have ill-maintained buildings and poor operating procedures, staff shortages and inadequate services.

For these reasons, more and more seniors are turning to home care agencies, especially in cities such as Montreal. However, the lack of public awareness about these options and the bureaucracy surrounding them has led to them being underutilized by both seniors and their caregivers.

In order to combat these issues, the Quebec government should invest more in the promotion of Montreal home care and promote reablement as an alternative to hospitalization. This approach to reducing the need for a high rate of institutionalization is in line with one of the objectives of the Ministere de la Sante et des Services sociaux’ action plan for 2015-2020. This includes a focus on improving HRQoL and promoting greater participation by users of the system, including their families, in decisions about their care. In addition, reablement can help reduce healthcare expenses in the long run. For these reasons, it is a promising option. Montreal home care