Homes of hundreds of Quebec seniors lack necessary safety measures to prevent wandering

Nearly half of Quebec’s seniors’ residences, where people are at risk of wandering, still lack provincially mandated safety measures to reduce that risk, Radio-Canada has learned.

one died recently 88 year old woman Outside a senior citizen’s residence in Laval, Que., questions are raised over compliance with the rules announced by the Health Ministry for the first time in 2022.

Some senior citizens’ residences, depending on their category, had time till July 2025 to install security systems.

Article 24 of the Regulation on Certification of Senior Citizens’ Residences requires operators of senior citizens’ residences of category 3 and 4 to install security devices that alert staff when residents at risk of wandering leave the building without supervision.

In Quebec, Category 3 residences serve semi-independent seniors and provide limited care services, while Category 4 residences house seniors with moderate to severe loss of autonomy and, according to the government, must provide both personal assistance and nursing care.

550 houses failed to meet the requirements

There are approximately 350 Category 4 private seniors’ homes in Quebec that house approximately 11,000 seniors, as well as more than 1,000 Category 3 residences that house approximately 108,000 people.

But data from Santé Québec shows that more than 550 of these private seniors’ homes still do not have the equipment required under Article 24 installed.

Of Category 3 residences, 512 are compliant, while 520 are not. Of Category 4 residences, 289 have safety equipment, while 56 do not.

In an email, a spokesperson for Sainte-Quebec said the application of Article 24 has not been suspended, it will remain in force and is expected to comply with the rules.

But Regroupement québécois des residences pour ainés (RQRA), which represents seniors’ homes, says it is not surprised by the figures.

Spokesman Hans Brouillette said, “For Category 3 dwellings without safety devices, it would be unrealistic to invoke Article 24 tomorrow morning, and even in the longer term it could turn into another saga like the sprinkler issue.” spraying rules This proved too expensive for some residences.

“Even with a friendly device, you need staff to respond, who is not always available around the clock.”

Brouillette said many residences face financial constraints that cannot be ignored. And Hugo Boucher, chairman of the RQRA board, said autonomous residents would feel the impact of tighter restrictions controlling their movements.

Lawyer says costs are high, but so are risks

However, Pierre Lynch, president of the Quebec seniors’ rights advocacy group, said time is running out as the population ages and cognitive issues become more common.

“I understand that some housing faces financial difficulties, but at some point, in some places, the monthly costs are already high enough. We’re playing with people’s lives right now,” said Lynch, who heads Association québécois de defense des droits des persons retraits et pre-retraits,

Lynch said Quebec should consider technologies like tracking chips in clothing or shoes that trigger door locks when a resident approaches, or simple solutions like door buzzers that alert staff if someone tries to leave.

According to telecommunications consultant Claude Dolembreux, anti-wandering systems on care-unit floors, basements and ground-level exits could cost about $5,000 per door, according to the province’s requirements.

Even a basic system requires significant investment to prevent residents from going unnoticed, but there is no shortage of options, he said.

“You can use facial recognition, chips in clothing or shoes, or bracelets and tags worn around the neck,” he said.

In March, senior minister Sonia Bélanger admitted that many Category 3 residences still did not have the necessary equipment installed.

“We are aware of the situation and we are reviewing each case individually with the Health Ministry,” he said.

Questioned in the National Assembly last week, Bélanger said he did not fully understand what happened at the Laval residence where the woman died.

“Senior homes do a great job, but when people have cognitive decline, each resident needs an individualized intervention plan,” she said.

“Yes, we need cameras, doorbells, and door locks, but nothing can replace direct supervision by staff.”

not the first time

The death of a woman in Laval is not an isolated case. According to her grandson, she was suffering from a dementia-like condition. The case has been referred to the coroner’s office.

His death was one of three cases this week involving senior citizens who died from exposure, although the other two cases were not related to seniors’ housing.

In 2019, the mother of former Bloc Québécois leader Gilles Duceppe was found unconscious in the snow near an emergency exit at a large seniors residence. He later died of hypothermia.

Coroner Gehen Kamel concluded that his death could have been avoided if the motion detector in his suite had worked as promised and if intercoms or bells had been installed at the emergency doors.

A 2021 coroner’s report examined the death of a 94-year-old man who was found in a parking lot near his residence on the morning of January 1. Coroner Dennis McManiman questioned whether a staff member staying overnight in the 24-room accommodation could be expected to stay awake with only a baby monitor for alerts.

McManiman wrote, “Over the past five years, I have found at least five cases where people wearing light clothing died outside in winter after leaving the house at night without anyone knowing.”

He also called for closer monitoring of certification regulation.

“After approximately three years of its implementation, government officials should verify whether it is being implemented properly and meeting expectations,” he wrote.