Orientation des Personnes Âgées
Hébergement Québec
HOUSING COUNSELORS
FOR SENIORS
PROUD TO SERVE YOU SINCE 1990
Email:
Telephone:
Montreal, Laval and North Shore
South Shore
OUR
SERVICES
Moving from our home to a residence for the elderly is not an easy decision.
By contacting OPAHQ (Orientation des personnes âgées hébergement Québec), the elderly and their families can benefit from a free range of services offered by professionals.
OPAHQ is a private organisation created in 1990 by a group of social workers.
Their mission is to provide a solution to the urging needs of information, support, assistance and help from the elderly and their families when searching for housing in the private sector.
A TEAM DEDICATED TO HELP YOU
The OPAHQ counsellors have a background in gerontology and/or a lot of experience with seniors. Furthermore, OPAHQ have always joined effort with social workers from the public health agency and social services.
SUPPORT AND HELP RELATIONSHIP
The OPAHQ offers accompanied visits for residences suggested by us. We can plan the appointments based on your availability and those of the residences. It’s also possible to visit them alone or with relatives, depending on everyone’s needs.
After visiting the residences, it is important to take the time to consider and evaluate the advantages of each one. The final decision is yours, but you can count on the OPAHQ throughout the process. We can also provide counseling before signing the lease so you have all the important information at hand.
The OPAHQ’s work goes beyond the search and referencing of residences. The senior and his relatives can contact us whenever needed during the process to give us their comments, receive additional information or simply share their experience. At all times, it is possible to contact the OPAHQ, even after the housing process is completed.
PERSONALIZED CONSULTATION AND EVALUATION OF NEEDS
It is possible to meet a counselor at home or at the hospital depending on the situation. This appointment allows the evaluation of the condition, needs, services and/or cares sought after and to select the most appropriate types of residences. It will also help defining the favorable sector and the available budget.On a similar note, the OPAHQ can provide information on many types of governmental programs linked to housing in the private sector.
LOOKING FOR A LIVING ENVIRONMENT
OPAHQ has access to a wide range of residences in the Montreal, Laval, South Shore and North Shore area. They cater to self-sufficient elderly, seniors with slight loss of independence, semi-independent or non-autonomous elderly. The OPAHQ will proceed to look for a residence based on the needs identified during the consultation. After verifying the availability and the costs of the most interesting residences, we will discuss the results with you.
SEVERAL TYPES OF HOUSING
Apartment residences with services
(studio, 2 ½, 3 ½, 4 ½)
Those residences are for a self-sufficientclientele or affected by a slight loss of independencelooking for security and a variety of services and activities. Those services must generally be selected from a list with fixed prices. The tenant chooses the ones meeting his needs. Some of those residences are authentic vacation resorts offering an incredible array of activities and services.
Assisted living
(rooms, studios, 2 ½ , 3 ½, 4 ½)
Some apartment residences with services allot one or two floors for seniors with slight to moderate loss of independence. Individuals can live on a secured floor where they will receive all necessary services and care while still having access to all the other services. This type of housing can satisfy the needs of single senior or certain couples when one of the spouses is less independent.
Family residences
Those residences of nine persons or less can be interesting for individuals looking for a family-like lifestyle. All services are usually included in the price: meals, laundry, bath aids and medication distribution.
TO MEET YOUR NEEDS
The residences available in the resource bank of OPAHQ offer several services and can fulfill every need. Those residences were visited and evaluated by OPAHQ in order to guarantee rigorous quality standards. Information about the residences are frequently updated.
Rooms and pension
This type of residence, offering between 10 and 200 rooms, is perfect for those looking for complete services (meals, housecleaning, laundry, bath aids and medication distribution), and access to the activities.
Units reserved for seniors with loss of cognitive independence
This type of residence offers care for relatively mobile tenants requiring a safe space due to loss of cognitive independence. The entries and exits are secured. This type of housing holds between 12 and 40 units.
Long term care centers
Those unfunded private centers can receive a patient in growing loss of independence requiring important care and services such as complete hygiene care and grooming, mobility aids, incontinence care etc…
USEFUL INFORMATION
FOR HOME-SUPPORT SERVICES FOR SENIORS
If you are 70 or over, you may qualify for the “Tax Credit for Home-Support Services for Seniors”. Whether you live in an apartment, a house, a residential building in co-ownership or a home for the elderly, this financial help is equal to 37% of eligible expenses for certain type of services. The rate will be raised annually by 1% until it reaches 40% in 2026
Eligible expenses are those linked to daily life activities (bath aid, grooming, and medication distribution) and domestic work (meals preparation, housecleaning).
Person living alone
The annual limit on the amount of eligible expenses is $19,500, for a maximum tax credit of $7,215 per year
(37% of $19,500). If you are considered a dependent senior, the annual limit on the amount of eligible expenses is $25,500, for a maximum tax credit of $9,435 per year (37% of $25,500).
Note: You may be required to provide written certification from a physician confirming that you are a dependent senior.
Couple
If you had a spouse on December 31, 2023, and you were both 70 or older, only one of you can claim the credit for your couple. The tax credit is equal to 37% of your eligible expenses. The annual limit on the amount of eligible expenses is $39,000, for a maximum tax credit of $14,040 per year (37% of $39,000).
Dependent senior
If you are a dependent senior or if you are claiming the credit for your couple and one of you is a dependent senior, the tax credit is reduced if your family income exceeds a set threshold.5 For 2022, the tax credit is reduced by 3% of the portion of the family income that exceeds $61,7256 . However, for that year, the maximum reduction is equal to 1% of eligible expenses. This means that, the reduction cannot be greater than 1% of your eligible expenses for the year. The maximum reduction will increase by 1% annually to reach 5% of eligible expenses in 2026.
Reduction based on family income
The tax credit is reduced according to two family income thresholds.1 First, it is reduced by 3% of the portion of the annual family income that exceeds the first threshold of $61,7252 but does not exceed the second threshold of $100,000. Next, it is reduced by 7% of the portion of the annual family income that exceeds the $100,0003 threshold
For more information, you can refer to the Quebec Revenue Ministry website: www.revenu.gouv.qc.ca or call 1-800-267-6299.
TAX CREDITS
MEDICAL EXPENSE AND DISABILITY TAX CREDITS
Medical care given to a senior citizen suffering from loss of independence and living in a private long term care center can be partially or totally tax deductible..
Tenants can claim tax credits under Medical Expense and Disability Tax Credits Certificate (Canada Revenue Agency T2201 Certificate).
For Quebec Revenue Agency, the correct certificate is the TP752.0.14 Certificate Respecting an Impairment (This form is used to certify that, for a prolonged period, a person has a severe mental or physical impairment.). This document must be duly filled by an authorized doctor.
SHELTER ALLOWANCE
Shelter Allowance is a housing allowance program for low-income individuals or households. This program is aimed at individuals aged 50 or over or couples in which one partner is aged 50 or over. For individuals, your income must not exceed 21 500$ or 30 300$ for couples. This allowance can be of maximum 170$ per month.
The Shelter Allowance is calculated annually and is paid every month in your bank account. For more information, you can refer to the following website www.habitation.gouv.qc.ca or call 1-800-463-4315.
CONTACT US
Email:
Phone numbers:
Montreal, Laval and North Shore
South Shore
You can contact us by filling in the form below:
