Living in a Private Seniors’ Residences (RPA) 

Private seniors’ residences (RPA) are for independent and semi-independent seniors. You can rent a room or an apartment in one of these residences and get access to a variety of services. Even though they’re privately owned and operated, they must follow rules set by the government. 

How to get a spot

You usually have to find and choose a residence by yourself. Your local community services centre (CLSC) and the government aren’t involved. The website of the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux (MSSS or department of health) has a register of private seniors’ residences (French only). You can search the register by region or available services. You can visit a few residences before picking the one that you like best based on your needs and budget.

In some cases, the residence may want to assess your level of autonomy to understand what your needs are. The residence can refuse to give you a spot if you need services it doesn’t offer.

Are you currently renting your home? If you want to move into a private seniors’ residence, you may be able to leave your place before the lease ends.

Choosing the services you need

To live in a private seniors’ residence, you need to sign a lease. Before signing it, you need to choose the services you want. They will be included in your rent. You need to choose based on the residence’s available services. The residence must give you a document that clearly describes the services they can offer you and how much they cost.

Different residences might offer different services. Here are some examples of services they might offer:

• meals,
• help with bathing and getting dressed,
• housekeeping and laundry,
• nursing care,
• help with taking medication,
• transportation,
• recreational activities.

In some cases, the residence might include some basic services with your unit, such as heating or Internet access. These services are included in your rent, and you don’t need to choose them separately.

Cost of rent and services

The residence decides how much to charge for the base rent and the services they offer. The base rent and cost of your chosen services are included in the total rent you pay every month.

You can also choose to take advantage of some of the services offered by the residence without including them in your rent. In this case, you pay each time you use them. You can also choose to use services that aren’t offered by the residence and pay for them yourself.

Finally, you can have access to certain in-home support services for free if you’re losing your autonomy. To find out more, read our article about staying in your home or contact your CLSC.

Signing the lease for a private seniors’ residence

After choosing the residence that you like best and the services you need, you need to sign a lease. The lease is a contract between you and the residence. It explains your responsibilities and the residence’s responsibilities. Read your lease before signing it. It usually isn’t possible to change it after you’ve signed it, unless the residence agrees.

The residence must use the standard lease form available through the Tribunal administratif du logement (TAL or housing court). The TAL used to be called the Régie du logement (rental board).

The residence must also attach a document to the lease called Schedule 6. This document is also available through the TAL and explains these details:

• the basic services included in your rent, like heating, Internet access, or recreational activities,
• the personal care and assistance services you chose and how much they cost,
• the total monthly cost, which is your base rent plus the cost of your chosen personal care and assistance services.

Before signing the lease, the residence must also give you a copy of these documents:

• the building rules, including rules for using common areas,
• the code of ethics that staff must follow when interacting with residents.

Changing, renewing or ending your lease

You can choose to change your lease to add more services offered by the residence. To do this, you must give the residence your written permission to assess your needs and change the lease.

Your residence can’t change the lease whenever they want, like if they want to increase the rent or the cost of services. If they want to change the lease, they need to send you a written notice at the right time. The right time depends on the length of your lease. You have one month after receiving the notice to refuse the changes. You must do this in writing. To find out more, read our article about renewing a residential lease and rent increases.

In some situations, you have the right to leave the private seniors’ residence before your lease ends. For example, you can do this if:

• you have a disability that stops you from being able to live in the residence,
• you need to leave to go live in another type of housing for seniors that offers additional services to meet your specific needs, your residence closes.

Quality and safety standards for a private seniors’ residence

Private seniors’ residences must follow rules set by the government. To be approved by Santé Québec (Quebec health), a residence must follow quality and safety standards. Santé Québec can inspect the residence at any time.

Here are some examples of rules that the residence must follow:

• keep a minimum number of staff on duty,
• have staff who are qualified to respond to an emergency and provide first aid,
• have a fire safety plan and sprinkler systems,
• install systems in each unit that allow people to call for help,
• have a plan for finding residents who might be missing,
• have a plan for keeping residents cool during a heat wave.

You can get information about a residence and check whether it is certified by using the Registre des residences privées pour aînés (private seniors‘ residence register, French only).

What to do if there’s a problem

If you have a problem while living in a private seniors’ residence, you have options. Here are some steps you can take:

• Talk to the person in charge of the residence.
• Talk to your residence’s users’ committee, residents’ committee or living environment committee. These committees represent your interests and can accompany you in taking next steps. Ask residence staff for the contact information for your committees.
• If taking these steps doesn’t solve a problem you’re having with the quality of the services you’re receiving, 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 with doing this, 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

Private seniors’ residences aren’t the only housing option for seniors. Seniors have other housing options, including: 

• in-home support services, 
• an intermediate resource (IR), 
• a long-term care centre (CHSLD).

To compare your options, see our article Housing Options for Seniors Who Can No Longer Live at Home.