Quebec's system for senior care is built around a single entry point: the CLSC — the Centre local de services communautaires, or local community service centre. Almost every funded service for older adults, from home help to placement in a long-term care home, flows through the CLSC. If you remember one thing from this guide, it is this: contact your local CLSC first.
The CLSC is a community health and social services centre that serves a defined geographical area. It is administered within a larger regional structure — either a CISSS (Centre intégré de santé et de services sociaux) or a CIUSSS (Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux), depending on the region. For most families, the CLSC is the only contact they need.
The CLSC opens a file for your family member, conducts a needs assessment (typically carried out by a social worker), coordinates home support services, and manages applications for placement in residential facilities including CHSLDs and Maisons des aînés. It is also the place to access services for carers — counselling, respite, and support.
To find your local CLSC, call 811 (Info-Santé / Info-Social) — available 24 hours, seven days a week in French and English across Quebec.
To receive publicly funded home support services, open a file at your CLSC. Contact their Guichet d'accès (access desk) — the phone number is usually listed on the CISSS or CIUSSS website under "Soutien à domicile" (Home Support) or "Soutien à l'autonomie des personnes âgées" (Senior Independence Support). In some regions, calling 811 is the starting point for this too.
Home support services include personal care, nursing care in the home, occupational therapy, housekeeping assistance, and Meals on Wheels-type programmes. The range and hours provided depend on the assessed level of need. Wait times for home support vary by CISSS region and by service type — basic safety-related care is generally prioritised, with longer waits for housekeeping and companion services.
Caregivers registered with the CLSC can also access respite and caregiver support services through the same system. The provincial organisation L'Appui pour les proches aidants (lappui.org) provides additional support and can help navigate the system in either language.
A CHSLD — Centre d'hébergement et de soins de longue durée — is a residential facility providing 24-hour nursing care and supervision for people with complex needs who can no longer be safely cared for at home. Medical care, nursing, and medications in publicly subsidised CHSLDs are covered by the provincial health plan.
Accommodation costs in a CHSLD are income-tested — the contribution is calculated annually by the Quebec government based on a rate schedule that accounts for the resident's income and financial resources. Families are not responsible for paying; the cost comes from the resident's own pension and income, not from children or other family members.
To apply for CHSLD admission:
As of November 2025, approximately 3,591 people are waiting for a CHSLD placement across Quebec. Around 54% of those waiting are at home, cared for by family. Waits of up to 24 months are documented. The earlier you apply, the better your position — and applying does not prevent you from changing your mind.
"54% of people waiting for a CHSLD placement are at home, being cared for by family. Quebec's carers are carrying enormous weight while waiting."
Bonjour Résidences / Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux, November 2025Maisons des aînés (MDA) are a newer type of public senior housing introduced by the Quebec government, designed as a more human-scale alternative to traditional CHSLDs. They consist of small living units centred around shared spaces, for seniors with moderate to severe loss of autonomy. Access is through CLSC assessment, following the same process as CHSLD placement. Wait times and availability vary by region.
Private retirement residences (Résidences privées pour aînés / RPAs) operate separately from the public system and manage their own admissions, costs, and waitlists. They range from independent living with hospitality services to settings with more significant care. The Quebec government has been progressively subsidising private CHSLDs — as of late 2024, only a small number remain fully unsubsidised. If you are considering a private facility, verify whether it is publicly subsidised (which affects costs and oversight) or remains private.
During or after a hospital stay, speak to your doctor or the hospital's social worker about requesting CHSLD placement if returning home is not safe. Hospital-based applications can be processed through the facility's own social services team and may qualify for higher urgency, depending on the clinical situation. Do not wait until discharge to raise this — the earlier in the admission, the more time there is to arrange appropriate placement.
First contact: Your local CLSC. Find it via 811 (Info-Santé, available 24/7 in French and English). Or contact L'Appui pour les proches aidants at 1-855-852-7784 for carer-specific support and navigation help.
Last reviewed: May 2026. Government programme details, costs, and contact numbers change. Verify current information directly with the relevant health authority or government body before acting.
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