Shutdown of western Quebec seniors' residence part of worrying trend

The closure of a private seniors' residence in Thurso, Que., is raising concerns about a growing trend in the region that could create a long-term housing problem for some of its most vulnerable residents.

After 22 years, the owners of Domaine du Bel ge seniors' residence in the west Quebec community of Thurso say they are forced to shut down the homeat the end of September.

"We weren't able to go on," said Yvon Doyon, who owns the residence for independent and semi-independent seniors with his wife Francine Ayotte."My wife is on the verge of burning out."

New regulations that require professionally trainedstaff and other modifications to meet more stringent Quebec COVID-19 healthstandards, madeit no longer affordable for the small residence with just nine units.

The couple ran the residence out their own home and depended on volunteers to keep it going.

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Franois Simard, who ownsChteau Saint-Andr, a residence for seniors in nearbySaint-Andr-Avellin, Que., said the closure ofDomaine du Bel ge should be a wake-up call about the inability for small residence owners to make ends meet.

"This is more and more the reality," said Simard, who says since 2014,530 residences have shut down in Quebec.

A group of small residences in the region signed a letter to the Quebec Families MinisterMathieu Lacombe who is also the minister responsible for the Outaouais region listing a number of issues that may cause more closures if not addressed.

Lacombe's office told Radio-Canada that he has shared the grievances with his cabinet colleagues in Quebec City.

Simard said higher operating costs and salaries for professional staff, alongside rent increaselimitsdetermined by the Quebec rental board make operations with fewer than 50 units no longer viable businesses.

He said the province should be alarmed, since small residencesserve the housing needs for a substantial number ofseniors in rural communities across the province.

Doyon suggests the province consider separate requirements for smaller operations, and alternative incentives like higher tax credits for home support for residents a move that would allow places like Domaine du Bel gethe ability to charge more to pay for staff.

As for the current residents at Domaine du Bel ge, social workers have found new homes for everyone for October.