As a caregiver, you have many important responsibilities, such as scheduling medical appointments, helping with personal care, and preparing meals. You are assisting someone close to you who needs support due to their age, illness, or disability. This person could be your partner, child, cousin, friend, etc.
Taking on this role can raise questions and concerns. The law provides tools to help you care for your loved one in the best way possible.
Essentials to Support You in Your Role
A caregiver’s role is important, but it can also be demanding. It’s normal to be worried. Here are a few resources to support you in your journey.
Legal Tools and Documents to Assist You
The person you care for might have already shared their wishes for situations like health problems, the inability to make decisions, or death. You must respect their wishes.
If the person you’re helping hasn’t decided yet and still has the capacity to make decisions and understand them, you can assist them in preparing these documents. This will help you in your caregiving role.
Incapacity Without a Protection Mandate: What Are the Options?
What happens if a person can no longer make decisions for themselves or manage their property? This is called “incapacity”. If the person hasn’t signed protection mandate, the law provides several options. These solutions might be temporary or permanent, depending on whether the person regains their ability to decide.
Are you the parent of a child living with a temporary or permanent incapacity? Different measures are available, depending on whether your child is a minor or an adult.
You can also read our guide for seniors for more information.
Caring for a Loved One Who Is Incapacitated: Considerations for Indigenous Communities
Balancing Work and Caregiving
As a caregiver, you may be entitled to a leave from work to take care of your loved one.
Consenting to Health Care
Generally, everyone has the right to accept or refuse medical treatment. But what if your loved one can’t give consent or refuses necessary care? And what about children? Who can access your loved one’s medical file?
Housing Needs
If your loved one needs to move because of health problems, there are different housing options available. The law allows them to end their lease in certain situations and provides recourses if there are problems or abuse.
Navigating the Health and Social Services Network
As a caregiver, you may need to make appointments or arrange care for your loved one. This can bring you into the health and social services system, which can be hard to navigate. These articles can point you in the right direction.
Test your knowledge!
Printable Guides and Pamphlets
Dying Without a Will: Who Inherits?
Homologation: Using a Protection Mandate
Wills
Useful Resources
L’Appui proches aidants is an organization that offers support for caregivers across Quebec. It provides information, training, psychological support, and services to help caregivers take a break. You can access resources by region on their website. The site also offers a range of information, including online training tools, FAQs and news.
Info-aidant (1 855 852-7784) is a free, confidential service offering support, information, and referrals for caregivers, their families, and healthcare professionals.
Programs and Assistance Measures
The Quebec government’s Health and Social Services Directory (Répertoire des ressources en santé et services sociaux) offers information on health and psychosocial issues, as well as specific programs and support measures available.
Service Canada’s Benefits Finder helps you find the federal or provincial programs and services that apply to your situation.
Financial Assistance and Tax Measures
The Société d’habitation du Québec offers a range of housing-related programs.
Revenu Québec and the Canada Revenue Agency provides various tax credits and financial measures.
On their website, L’appui proches aidants shares information about possible tax benefits for caregivers.