Services in Quebec

Canada's suicide crisis helpline, funded by the Government of Canada and led by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. Call or text 9-8-8 free of charge, any hour of any day, in English or French, whether you are struggling yourself or worried about someone you love.

Verified by us 2026-08-05. Call or text 9-8-8 at any hour; free, confidential, and no referral needed.

A Government of Canada helpline offering free counselling and crisis support to all Indigenous people across Canada, 24 hours a day, with culturally grounded Indigenous counsellors. Support is available by phone in English and French, with Cree, Ojibway and Inuktitut on request, and by online chat at hopeforwellness.ca.

Verified by us 2026-08-05. Call 1-855-242-3310 at any hour, or use the online chat at hopeforwellness.ca; no referral needed.

Free one-on-one peer support from The Kidney Foundation of Canada, a registered charity. It matches people living with kidney disease, and their family members, with a trained volunteer who has lived through it themselves, for confidential support by phone.

Verified by us 2026-08-07. Call 1-866-390-PEER (7337) to speak with a program coordinator, or complete the online request form on the peer support page.

A free stroke recovery program from March of Dimes Canada, a registered charity. An After Stroke coordinator works one-on-one with the survivor and their family, connects them to peer support and support groups, and stays with them from hospital to home and beyond. In-person teams are concentrated in Ontario, British Columbia and Atlantic Canada, with phone and online support across the rest of Canada.

Verified by us 2026-08-07. Call the After Stroke Support Line at 1-888-540-6666, email afterstroke@marchofdimes.ca, or complete the online form at afterstroke.ca to be matched with an After Stroke coordinator.

A free professional listening and referral line for family caregivers, run by L'Appui pour les proches aidants, a nonprofit funded by the Government of Quebec. Trained counsellors help caregivers find respite, local services and financial aid in their region, Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., by phone or online chat.

Verified by us 2026-08-06. Call 1 855 852-7784 or use the website chat, Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The Government of Quebec's free 24-hour psychosocial help line. Dial 811 and choose option 2 to speak confidentially with a professional about worry, grief, loneliness, family conflict or a mental health concern, for yourself or someone you care for.

Verified by us 2026-08-06. Dial 811, option 2, any time, from anywhere in Quebec.

A free Veterans Affairs Canada helpline that connects veterans, former RCMP members, their families and caregivers with a mental health professional at any hour, every day of the year. Callers can receive up to 20 hours of confidential counselling and do not need an existing VAC file.

Verified by us 2026-08-05. Call 1-800-268-7708 any time, day or night (TDD/TTY 1-800-567-5803); no referral or VAC file needed.

The national office of the Alzheimer Society, a registered charity. It is a first point of contact after a dementia diagnosis: staff answer the line Monday to Friday and connect families to the Alzheimer Society in their own province, where local societies deliver the programs such as First Link, support groups and education.

Verified by us 2026-08-07. Call 1-800-616-8816, Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm Eastern, or use the contact form at alzheimer.ca; for dementia programs the national office connects families to their local Alzheimer Society through alzheimer.ca/find.

A program of MedicAlert Foundation Canada, a registered charity, for people living with dementia who may wander or go missing. The subscriber wears a distinctive blue MedicAlert ID, and through the charity's Connect Protect partnership, 9-1-1 dispatchers, police, and paramedics across Canada can pull up the person's health record, wandering history, and caregiver contacts to bring them home safely. This is a charity subscription service, not a government program and not a privately vetted company.

Verified by us 2026-08-07. Call 1-877-217-7449 to subscribe to Safe & Found, or sign up online at medicalert.ca/safe-and-found; general inquiries 1.800.668.1507, Monday to Friday 9 am to 6 pm Eastern.

A free phone and email information service from Arthritis Society Canada, a registered charity. Trained volunteers answer questions about arthritis, treatment options and coping day to day, and can connect callers with a Peer Listener for one-on-one emotional support.

Verified by us 2026-08-07. Call 1-800-321-1433 and press 2 for the Arthritis Line, Monday to Friday in English or French; you can leave a message any time and they aim to reply within 24 hours.

A free helpline from the Canadian Cancer Society, a registered charity. Trained information specialists answer questions about cancer, treatments and side effects, and help find support services and community resources near you, Monday to Friday, with an interpreter service for other languages.

Verified by us 2026-08-07. Call 1-888-939-3333, Monday to Friday, or use live chat or the online form at cancer.ca; interpreters are available for languages other than English and French.

A free, confidential helpline from Diabetes Canada, a registered charity. Staff answer questions about living with diabetes and managing it day to day, share trusted resources and point callers to programs in their province. They do not give medical advice or make appointments.

Verified by us 2026-08-07. Call 1-800-BANTING (226-8464), Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern, or email info@diabetes.ca; conversations are confidential.

A free, confidential information and referral line from Parkinson Canada, a registered charity. Staff give one-on-one help with questions about symptoms, medications and treatment options, and connect people with Parkinson's, their families and care partners to support groups and services in their community.

Verified by us 2026-08-07. Call 1-800-565-3000 or email info@parkinson.ca, Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern; the contact page also lists 1-888-664-1974 and support@parkinson.ca for Parkinson's information.

The public drug plan run by RAMQ, the Government of Quebec's health insurance board, covering more than 8,000 prescription drugs. When you turn 65 you are registered automatically unless you choose to keep a private plan, and the annual premium is collected through your Quebec income tax return.

Verified by us 2026-08-06. Registration at 65 is automatic; call RAMQ before turning 65 only if you are keeping private insurance.

The Government of Quebec's free 24-hour health line. Dial 811 and choose option 1 to speak with a nurse about any non-urgent health problem, for yourself or a family member, every day of the year. It can spare a senior an unneeded trip to a clinic or emergency room.

Verified by us 2026-08-06. Dial 811, option 1, any time, from anywhere in Quebec.

The Government of Canada's central fraud reporting service, jointly managed by the RCMP, the Ontario Provincial Police and the Competition Bureau. Seniors and families can call to report a scam, check whether a call or offer is genuine, and learn what to do after money or personal information has been taken.

Verified by us 2026-08-05. Call 1-888-495-8501, Monday to Friday 10 am to 4:45 pm Eastern time, or report a scam online any time through the reporting system at reportcyberandfraud.canada.ca.

A confidential provincial helpline for older adults facing abuse, neglect or financial exploitation, and for worried family members. It is funded by the Government of Quebec's Secretariat for Seniors and staffed by counsellors who specialize in mistreatment, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day. Formerly known as the Elder Mistreatment Helpline (Ligne Aide Abus Aines).

Verified by us 2026-08-06. Call 1-888-489-2287 any day between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.; anonymous and bilingual.

A Government of Canada benefit, administered by Sun Life, that pays much of the cost of dental care for people without private dental insurance, including cleanings, fillings, x-rays and dentures. Seniors of any age qualify if the household income is under $90,000, last year's taxes are filed, and they live in Canada. Applications for the 2026-2027 benefit year are open.

Verified by us 2026-08-05. Apply online through My Service Canada Account or Canada.ca, or call Service Canada at 1-833-537-4342 (TTY 1-833-677-6262); a trusted helper can apply with the senior on the line to give consent.

A registered charity that helps Canadians who are blind or partially sighted use accessible technology, through free group and one-to-one training, smartphone apps, and devices like a free smartphone for registered clients. This is a national charity program, not a privately vetted company.

Verified by us 2026-08-05. Call the national line or fill out the online contact form at cnib.ca to reach a CNIB program coordinator, who can register you and connect you to programs like Tech and Peer Support, or point you to a referral for vision loss rehabilitation training.

Quebec Health Insurance Plan coverage, paid by the Government of Quebec through RAMQ, that gives adults 65 and over one free complete eye exam per year at the optometrist. Emergency eye exams are covered for everyone. Eyeglasses and contact lenses are not covered for adults.

Verified by us 2026-08-06. Book with any Quebec optometrist and show a valid Health Insurance Card.

A RAMQ program (Government of Quebec) that pays for hearing aids and assistive listening devices, including repair and replacement, for insured Quebecers with a qualifying hearing loss. Adults qualify with an average loss of at least 35 decibels in the better ear, confirmed by a hearing test.

Verified by us 2026-08-06. See a Quebec audioprosthetist for a hearing aid, or a recognized specialized facility for assistive listening devices, with the required audiology documents.

A RAMQ program (Government of Quebec) that lends visual aids such as reading machines, braille devices and white canes to people with a permanent visual impairment, and pays set amounts toward getting and keeping a guide dog. The needs assessment is free with your health insurance card.

Verified by us 2026-08-06. Apply through an accredited facility specializing in vision rehabilitation; the facility assesses your needs and lends the devices.

Trained Red Cross volunteers call people age 18 and up on a regular basis just to check in, talk, and share wellbeing resources, an easy way to feel less alone. It is free and available by phone anywhere in Canada, including every city in the GTA. The Canadian Red Cross is a federally chartered registered charity, and this is a public community support service, not a privately vetted company.

Verified by us 2026-08-05. There is no single phone number across these programs. Families call the specific line: Toronto Transportation and Meals on Wheels at 416-236-3180, Burlington Transportation at 1-844-843-7331 ext 2, Burlington Meals on Wheels at 905-637-5664, or the national Friendly Calls Program at 1-833-979-9779.

St. John Ambulance, one of Canada's oldest registered charities, sends volunteer handlers and their gentle, screened dogs into seniors residences, care facilities, and hospitals for regular visits that ease loneliness and lift spirits. Over 2,500 dog teams volunteer across Canada, and there is one national online form to request visits for a facility or event. This is a charity program, not a government service and not a privately vetted company.

Verified by us 2026-08-07. A seniors residence, care facility, or event organizer requests visits through the national online request form linked from the Therapy Dog Program page, or calls 1-800-989-3787; visits are then arranged with the local volunteer dog teams.

A free Government of Canada online tool that asks a few quick questions and builds a personal list of federal benefits, with filters for seniors and retirees aged 60 and over and for caregivers. It needs no account or personal identifying information, and it links to your province's own benefits page too.

Verified by us 2026-08-05. Use the tool online at benefitsfinder.services.gc.ca; for general help with federal programs call 1 800 O-Canada at 1-800-622-6232.

Canada Revenue Agency credits that cut the tax bill for seniors and the relatives who support them, all claimed on the yearly tax return. They include the age amount for people 65 and older, pension income splitting with a spouse, the medical expense credit that covers attendant care and many home health costs, the Canada Caregiver Credit, the Home Accessibility Tax Credit for up to $20,000 a year of safety renovations, and the Multigenerational Home Renovation Tax Credit, which refunds 14.5% of up to $50,000 spent adding a secondary suite for a senior.

Verified by us 2026-08-05. Claim these credits when filing the yearly income tax return, or ask a tax preparer or free tax clinic to check each one; call the CRA with questions.

A Government of Canada tax credit that lowers income tax for people with a severe, long-term impairment, or for the family member who supports them. Long-term conditions that affect everyday life, such as dementia, may qualify. Once approved, the credit can be claimed for past years going back up to 10 years, which can mean a large refund.

Verified by us 2026-08-05. Apply using the CRA's digital DTC application or Form T2201 by mail; a medical practitioner completes the medical part, then the credit is claimed at tax time.

A tax-free Government of Canada payment every three months for people with low and modest incomes, which replaced the GST/HST credit in July 2026 with a 25% higher amount. There is no application; filing your tax return each year, even with no income, automatically signs you up if you qualify.

Verified by us 2026-08-05. File a tax return every year to be enrolled automatically; call 1-800-387-1193 with payment questions.

Free tax clinics supported by the Canada Revenue Agency, where trained community volunteers complete tax returns for people with a modest income and a simple tax situation. Filing every year is what keeps benefits like the Guaranteed Income Supplement flowing, so these clinics matter even when no tax is owed. In Quebec the program runs jointly with Revenu Quebec as the Income Tax Assistance volunteer program.

Verified by us 2026-08-05. Find a nearby clinic with the Find a free tax clinic directory on canada.ca; clinic types and dates vary by community organization.

A Revenu Quebec refundable tax credit that gives Quebecers 70 and over money back on home support expenses such as housekeeping, personal care and meal services, whatever their level of autonomy. It applies whether the senior owns a house, rents an apartment, lives with family or lives in a private seniors' residence, and it can be paid in advance through the year instead of at tax time.

Verified by us 2026-08-06. Claim it in the Quebec income tax return (Schedule J), or register with Revenu Quebec for advance payments.

A Revenu Quebec grant that softens a sharp municipal tax increase caused by a jump in home value, for seniors 65 and over who have owned their home for at least 15 consecutive years. The home must be their principal residence and family income must be $64,200 or less.

Verified by us 2026-08-06. Claim it on line 462 of the Quebec income tax return using form TP-1029.TM-V.

The Government of Quebec's public retirement pension, managed by Retraite Quebec, for anyone who contributed to the Quebec Pension Plan while working. You can start it as early as 60 at a reduced amount, take 100 percent at 65, or wait as late as 72 for a higher pension for life.

Verified by us 2026-08-06. Apply online through My Account or with a paper form a few months before you want payments to start; you can cancel within six months of the first payment.

A Revenu Quebec refundable tax credit of up to $2,000 for a single senior or $4,000 for a couple where both spouses qualify, for lower-income Quebecers 70 and over. There is nothing to claim: Revenu Quebec calculates it automatically when the senior files a Quebec income tax return.

Verified by us 2026-08-06. File a Quebec income tax return; the credit is calculated automatically.

A Government of Quebec housing benefit, managed by Revenu Quebec for the Societe d'habitation du Quebec, that pays up to $170 a month to low-income renters, boarders and homeowners who spend 30 percent or more of their income on housing. People 50 and over living alone or as a couple can qualify, subject to income limits.

Verified by us 2026-08-06. Apply online in My Account for individuals or with the paper application; both spouses must have filed Quebec tax returns.

Tax-free monthly Government of Canada payments for people aged 60 to 64 with low income. The Allowance is for the spouse or common-law partner of a senior who gets the Guaranteed Income Supplement, and the Allowance for the Survivor is for someone whose spouse or partner has died. Apply 6 to 11 months before you turn 60, or right away if you are already in this age range.

Verified by us 2026-08-05. You must apply; call Service Canada or apply through My Service Canada Account.

A monthly taxable Government of Canada pension that replaces part of your income in retirement and is paid for life to people who contributed to the CPP while working. You can start it as early as 60 or wait until 70 for a larger amount. If you keep working while collecting before age 70, extra contributions earn a post-retirement benefit that raises your pension each year.

Verified by us 2026-08-05. You must apply; apply online through My Service Canada Account or call. If you worked in another country, international social security agreements may help you qualify.

A monthly taxable Government of Canada benefit for people over 18 and under 65 who cannot work because of a severe and prolonged disability and who contributed to the CPP. People already collecting a CPP retirement pension who become disabled before 65 may qualify for the post-retirement disability benefit instead. At 65 it converts automatically to the regular CPP retirement pension.

Verified by us 2026-08-05. You must apply, and a health care professional completes the medical part of the application; apply through My Service Canada Account or by paper form.

Government of Canada payments to the family of a CPP contributor who has died. The survivor's pension is a monthly payment to the legal spouse or common-law partner, and the death benefit is a one-time payment of up to $5,000 to the estate or the person who paid the funeral costs. Apply as soon as possible after the death, because the survivor's pension can only be back-paid for 12 months.

Verified by us 2026-08-05. Apply online through My Service Canada Account or by mail as soon as possible after the death.

Employment Insurance benefits from the Government of Canada that replace part of your pay while you are away from work caring for someone. The family caregiver benefit covers up to 15 weeks for a critically ill or injured adult, and compassionate care benefits cover up to 26 weeks for a person who needs end-of-life care. You do not have to live with or be related to the person, and eligible caregivers can share the weeks.

Verified by us 2026-08-05. Apply online at canada.ca as soon as you stop work, with a medical certificate for the person you care for; call 1-800-206-7218 for help with a claim.

A tax-free monthly top-up from the Government of Canada for seniors 65 and older who receive the OAS pension and have low income. It is worth checking even if you are not sure you qualify, and you must file your income tax return every year to keep the payments coming.

Verified by us 2026-08-05. Many seniors are enrolled automatically and told by letter; if no letter has arrived a month after your 64th birthday, call Service Canada or apply through My Service Canada Account.

A monthly Government of Canada pension for people 65 and older, based on how long you have lived in Canada after age 18, whether or not you ever worked. Many seniors are enrolled automatically and get a letter from Service Canada; if no letter has arrived a month after your 64th birthday, you may need to apply. Years spent in countries that have a social security agreement with Canada can help you qualify.

Verified by us 2026-08-05. Call Service Canada or apply online through My Service Canada Account; many seniors are enrolled in OAS and GIS automatically and get a letter in the mail around their 64th birthday.

A registered national charity that helps families put end-of-life wishes in writing and understand their legal options. It offers free downloadable Advance Care Planning kits for every province, a support team that answers questions about end-of-life rights and medical assistance in dying, and trained volunteers who serve as the independent witness the law requires on a MAID request, including by video call. This is a charity, not a government agency and not a privately vetted company.

Verified by us 2026-08-07. Call the Support Team at 1-844-395-3640 or email support@dyingwithdignity.ca for end-of-life questions; request an independent witness through the online form, and download free province-specific Advance Care Planning kits from the website.

A Veterans Affairs Canada program, delivered by the nonprofit Last Post Fund, that helps pay funeral, burial and grave marker costs so eligible veterans receive a dignified funeral. Families apply through the Last Post Fund within one year of the veteran's death.

Verified by us 2026-08-05. Call the Last Post Fund at 1-800-465-7113 to apply; applications must be submitted within one year of the veteran's death.

A free information line from Osteoporosis Canada, a registered charity. Trained volunteer counsellors answer questions about bone health, osteoporosis and preventing broken bones, send helpful information and point callers to resources near them. A good call after a fracture or a fall risk warning.

Verified by us 2026-08-07. Call the toll-free information line at 1-800-463-6842 (in Canada only) and leave a message if no one picks up; a trained volunteer counsellor will help.

A RAMQ program (Government of Quebec) that pays for wheelchairs, walking aids, orthoses, prostheses and posture aids for insured Quebecers with a physical impairment. Devices come through authorized public rehabilitation facilities and approved laboratories. Scooters and walkers fall under separate government assistive device programs.

Verified by us 2026-08-06. Go to an authorized public rehabilitation facility (or an authorized laboratory for orthoses and prostheses); a medical prescription is sometimes required.

A Revenu Quebec refundable tax credit for people 70 and over that pays back part of the cost of buying, leasing and installing equipment that helps them keep living at home, and of stays in a functional rehabilitation transition unit after a hospital stay. It is a Government of Quebec benefit claimed through the income tax return.

Verified by us 2026-08-06. Keep receipts and claim the credit at line 462 of the Quebec income tax return.

A Government of Quebec program managed by RAMQ that lowers the hourly rate you pay a recognized domestic help business for housekeeping, heavy cleaning, snow clearing at the entrance, laundry, meal preparation and accompanied errands. Everyone 18 and over with Quebec health insurance gets $4 off each hour, and up to $22.08 more per hour depending on age, income and family situation.

Verified by us 2026-08-06. Contact a recognized domestic help social economy business; it gives you the application form and sends it to RAMQ for you.

A Societe d'habitation du Quebec program (Government of Quebec) that pays homeowners to adapt the home of a person with a significant, lasting disability, such as ramps, stair aids and accessible bathrooms, so they can stay home safely. Registrations reopen online on August 12, 2026 after a pause that began in April 2025. The program page is currently available in French only.

Verified by us 2026-08-06. From August 12, 2026 at 8:30 a.m., register online through the Quebec.ca program page; call 1 800 463-4315, option 1 with questions.

RAMQ, the Government of Quebec's health insurance board, sets the monthly amount you pay for room and board in a public long-term care home (CHSLD) or other public facility. Care itself is free; the room costs up to $2,242.20 a month for a private room, and families who cannot afford the set amount can apply for a reduction based on ability to pay.

Verified by us 2026-08-06. Placement is arranged through your CISSS or CIUSSS assessment; once admitted, RAMQ mails the notice of decision and you can file an Application for Exemption or Re-Evaluation to lower the amount.

A Government of Canada program that helps pay nursing home costs for veterans who need 24-hour personal and nursing care. The veteran pays a capped monthly amount toward room and meals, currently $1,236.90, and Veterans Affairs Canada helps with eligible care costs beyond that.

Verified by us 2026-08-05. The veteran must first be admitted to a long-term care home, then the family applies through My VAC Account online or mails application package VAC1503APe; call 1-866-522-2122 for help.

A Veterans Affairs Canada program that pays for housekeeping, grounds maintenance, meal preparation, personal care and other supports so veterans can keep living in their own homes. Some survivors and primary caregivers of deceased veterans can also receive housekeeping and grounds maintenance funding.

Verified by us 2026-08-05. Call Veterans Affairs Canada at 1-866-522-2122, Monday to Friday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm local time, or apply online through My VAC Account.