MONTREAL, Sept. 10, 2026 /CNW/ -- A Léger survey last spring revealed that nearly half of Quebecers aged 50 and over fear running out of money during their retirement. In Quebec, more than half of older people report a gross income of less than $35,000. With the population ageing rapidly, coupled with galloping inflation, their financial situation is becoming downright alarming.
The Health Action Committee of the Point St. Charles Community Clinic, in partnership with the Coalition pour la dignité des aînés, believes it is our duty to support older people who are struggling to make ends meet. With this in mind, the Committee is putting forward five concrete demands aimed at improving the health conditions of older people.
- Extension of RAMQ's public cover for oral and dental care for people aged 65 and over (preventative and curative care);
- Extension of the 'Mieux voir pour réussir' financial assistance programme to older people to cover part of the cost of purchasing visual aids. This programme currently reimburses $300 towards the purchase of glasses or contact lenses for each child under the age of 18;
- For older people with significant hearing loss, RAMQ coverage for the purchase of hearing aids for both ears, rather than just one. The Government of Quebec must also recognise over-the-counter hearing aids approved by Health Canada and require hearing aid specialists to include them in their product range. These devices cost between one-third and one-tenth the price of those currently recommended by hearing aid specialists;
- Abolition of the $200 excess under the provincial programme for daily living and domestic assistance for eligible older people with reduced independence. This programme, which facilitates the purchase of equipment, remains essential for them to carry out their daily activities;
- For carers, the new home autonomy allowance (service employment voucher) should become a refundable and tax-free tax credit.
"Too many older people are still forced to postpone care, go without essential equipment or go into debt to meet what are, after all, basic needs. These situations are preventable. The measures we are proposing are practical, realistic and will have a direct impact on health. Investing in these needs means ensuring that those who built Québec can enjoy their later years with dignity," said Mr Pierre Lynch, spokesperson for the Coalition pour la dignité des aînés.
"In 2026, Canada officially became an ageing nation, meaning that at least 20 per cent of the population is aged 65 and over. Do we want our older people to be able to grow old with dignity, or, on the contrary, to be left to languish in poverty with their health in constant decline?" fumes Mario Normandin, a member of the Health Action Committee.
Services for older people are essential for maintaining their independence and their participation in the community. In the face of an ageing population and growing needs, we demand that the next government adopt concrete measures tailored to the realities on the ground. For far too long, successive governments have failed to invest sufficiently in prevention to support seniors. Improving the health of older people means choosing a society that is more supportive, more inclusive and more humane.
About the Point St. Charles Community Clinic
The Point St. Charles Community Clinic is a health organization run by the residents of Point St. Charles. It provides preventive and curative services, while bringing citizens together to discuss health issues and improve health conditions in the short and long term. The Health Action Committee, an offshoot of the Community Clinic, calls for a universal public health system accessible to all.
About the Coalition pour la dignité des aînés
Founded in June 2020, the Coalition pour la dignité des aînés is an umbrella organisation of national associations for seniors, acting as a key point of contact with the government on issues that affect or relate to the concerns of older people in Quebec.
SOURCE Point St. Charles Community Clinic
Information: Stéphane Defoy Community organizer, Point St. Charles Community Clinic Phone: 438 822-8298, Email: [email protected]; Céline Bianchi Communications officer, Point St. Charles Community Clinic, Phone: 514 937-9251, Ext. 7239, Email: [email protected]
Share this article