The population of Quebec is aging rapidly. Out of the 8.4 million inhabitants in 2017, above a third were over 50, and 1.6 million people aged 65 or older. By 2031, the Institut de la statistique du Québec estimated that more than a quarter of Quebecers will be over 65 years old and almost a third in 2061 (Ministère de la famille, 2018). This demographic aging can be explained by the high birth rate that followed the baby-boom, and an increase in life expectancy.

With a growing population in need of care, older people are facing a sad reality: Quebec has the lowest bed availability rate in LTRCs in the country (CSBE, 2022). In September 2022, the Ministère de la Santé et des Services Sociaux’s (MSSS) waiting list in LTRCs counted 4270 seniors, almost twice as many as five years ago (CSBE, 2017). The last few months marked the provincial record, with a total of 4500 applicants on December 13 2022. Meanwhile, people who can, wait at home, but more than a quarter of those in care need must occupy a hospital bed due to their health condition. Some even have experienced 24-hour notice, prompting them to move to an LTRC, which causes immense pressure on the families and the person in need. The extreme lack of empathy towards our community outlines the radical urge to innovate and engage a broad reflection about aging for everyone’s sake.