Living in an Intermediate Resource (IR)

An intermediate resource (IR) is a type of housing designed for seniors who have a slight to moderate loss of autonomy. It may be right for you if you need day-to-day support but don’t require continuous health care. This type of housing offers an “intermediate” level of care, and falls somewhere between residences for independent seniors and long-term care centres (CHSLD). Intermediate resources include rooming houses, supervised apartments, or group homes.

How to get a spot

You can ask for a spot in an intermediate resource in one of these ways:

• You can contact your local community services centre (CLSC) to request a spot for yourself or a loved one. 
• During or after a hospital stay, you can talk to your doctor or the hospital staff about requesting a spot. 
• If you’re living in a seniors’ residence, you can talk to a resource person in your building about requesting a spot.

To be able to live in an intermediate resource, you have to be registered under Quebec’s public health insurance plan. Before being admitted, a worker from Santé Québec will evaluate your health, level of autonomy, and whether your living situation must be addressed urgently.

If staying at home or in your current residence is no longer safe or is too difficult, you will be offered a spot in an intermediate resource. You and your loved ones will be included in making this decision, depending on your needs and available spots in intermediate resources nearby. Eligibility criteria and wait times can limit your options, so make sure to get informed and plan ahead.

Services provided

Les ressources intermédiaires offrentIntermediate resources offer many types of day-to-day support, such as:

• meal preparation,
• help with bathing, getting dressed, and doing laundry,
• help with moving around, getting up, and going to bed,
• medical monitoring and support with taking medication.

Medical care is not provided directly by the intermediate resource. Instead, services like nursing and physiotherapy are provided by your CLSC, just like if you were still living at home.

You don’t choose which services you will receive. The staff of the intermediate resource will evaluate your needs and determine which services you will be provided and for how long.

For example, when you live in an intermediate resource, you might receive help putting on compression socks in the morning and then go to a common dining room to eat a balanced meal. If a doctor prescribes physiotherapy, a CLSC health professional could come to you to provide the service.

How much it costs to live in an intermediate resource

The Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ or health insurance board) determines how much you pay depending on your financial situation. The RAMQ mails you a monthly invoice.

The health care and social services provided in the intermediate resource are free. The monthly payment covers things like:

• your room or apartment,
• your meals,
• some services, like cleaning the common areas.

The amount to pay is updated each year, on January 1^st. The RAMQ website has a calculation tool you can use to estimate the cost. If you’re struggling financially, you can apply for the fees to be reduced. If you disagree with the RAMQ’s answer to this application, you can request a review of the decision.

Safety and quality standards in an intermediate resource

Intermediate resources must meet quality and safety standards set by the government. For example, intermediate resources must:

• be safe and accessible, with ramps or wide doors if needed,
• have clean common areas that are suited to residents’ needs,
• follow fire safety and hygiene regulations.

Monitoring and inspections

All intermediate resources are registered with the government.  Santé Québec staff visit each intermediate resource from time to time to inspect them. Reports of these visits are put online by the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux (MSSS or department of health) (French only).

Surveillance cameras in rooms

In some cases, a camera can be installed in your room for your safety. Ask your intermediate resource about the rules that apply.

Code of ethics

Intermediate resources must follow a code of ethics to protect the dignity and rights of their residents. You can usually ask to see a copy of this document.

What to do if there’s a problem

If you have a problem while living in an intermediate resource, here are some steps you can take:

• Speak with the person in charge of your intermediate resource.
• Talk to your intermediate resource’s users’ committee or in-patients’ committee. These committees represent your interests and can give you information and help with resolving a problem. Ask the intermediate resource’s staff for the committees’ contact information.
• If taking these steps doesn’t solve a problem you’re having with the quality of services you receive from the CLSC or the intermediate resource, you can file a formal complaint with the local service quality and complaints commissioner. The commissioner can investigate the situation and propose solutions.
• For more information on filing a complaint or for help doing so, you can communicate with a Centre d’assistance et d’accompagnement aux plaintes (CAAP or complaints assistance and support centre ). These community organizations exist in every region of Quebec.

For more details about your rights and recourses, see our article Housing for Seniors: Your Rights and Recourses.

Other housing options

There are other housing options for seniors, including:

• in-home support services,
• a private seniors’ residence (RPA), 
• a long-term care centre (CHSLD).

To compare your options, see our article Housing Options for Seniors Leaving Their Home.