Private retirement
homes

You get a safe living environment that gives you the freedom of choice according to your needs and tastes. The chance to maintain your privacy, as the residence offers care services and assistance with daily life services.

The chance to learn new things.

You get to live in a vibrant and active community that offers social and cultural activities that are stimulating and overseen by leisure specialists.

More quality time to spend with your loved ones.

You get a safe living environment that gives you the freedom of choice according to your needs and tastes. The chance to maintain your privacy, as the residence offers care services and assistance with daily life services.

The chance to learn new things.

You get to live in a vibrant and active community that offers social and cultural activities that are stimulating and overseen by leisure specialists. 

More quality time to spend with your loved ones.

First, make a list of your needs and preferences and establish your budget. Prepare a list of all your questions. That way, you won’t forget anything during your visit. Ask about nursing and assistance services for your needs and lifestyle.

Visit several residences and take notes. Although price is an important factor, what’s even more important is having a good feeling about the place that will become your new home or the home of your loved one.

Don’t hesitate to join activities organized by the residence before making your choice. That way, you can talk with residents who already live there.

Take your time.

It’s important to stay in familiar surroundings so that you feel at home. Get information about seniors’ residences in the neighbourhood that you are interested in and take the time to visit them to find out what they have to offer. 

If you’re thinking of moving to a new region or neighbourhood, take the time to walk around and get to know the streets and shops before you move in. This will help you find your way around and feel more at ease even before you move.

Life at a residence goes well beyond just living in an apartment, as you have access to many services on site.

Depending on your level of independence and chosen lifestyle, our services will help you maintain your quality of life.

If you currently enjoy excellent independence and health, it would be a good idea to choose a residence that can help you go through the different stages of independence as your needs change.

To keep up your social life, make sure you have access to a variety of activities that challenge you both intellectually and physically. Choosing a dynamic living environment will help you stay alert and fill your days with interesting activities.

Private retirement homes are a rich source of human interaction. Living at a residence helps decrease social isolation and connects you with employees and specialists whose mission is to serve you and with the other residents who share your living environment.

You have the freedom to choose the type of apartment and range of services that suit you. Do you like to cook? Then you will love our apartments with spacious kitchens. And you always have the opportunity to eat in the dining room whenever you feel like it.

The Government of Quebec offers important benefits and tax credits for seniors. You simply need to take advantage of them. 

If you are 70 or older, you and/or your spouse may be entitled to the tax credit for home-support services for seniors. The more you take advantage of services offered by your residence, the higher your tax credit could be!

Our Quality of Life Agents are here for you and can answer your questions about the tax credit.

It’s tempting to wait until the last minute to plan your move. But planning in advance for such a big event can make the process much smoother. Here are some tips to make your move that much easier:

Movers and moving truck

As soon as you know the date of your move to your new residence, start shopping around for your mover or moving truck. You can then estimate the time and costs for the move. If you choose to move by yourself, take time to ask your family and friends about their availability.

Cleaning, furniture and boxes

It’s never too early to start throwing out household objects you haven’t used in years. And since it takes time to organize cherished items, you can start this step even before you think about moving. There are many associations that would be happy to take your clothing and objects in good condition. If you can, take a first tour of your future apartment to get its dimensions and capacity. You can then assess your needs and decide what stays and what goes. As soon as you come across an item you rarely use or that you can go without for a long period, take the time to pack it in a box that is clearly labelled. This will help you avoid spending hours looking for it again.

Get a large quantity of boxes in different sizes (mostly small boxes to avoid injuries from heavy boxes), packing tape, labels, and paper (e.g., newspaper) to pack fragile objects. Don’t hesitate to ask your family to help you pack. 

Change your address

Two weeks before you move, take the time to advise your family and friends about your new address. You should also call different organizations and companies: bank, credit cards, telephone and/or Internet service provider, cable company, doctor, dentist, and magazines and newspapers you have a subscription to.

You can notify the Government of Quebec by contacting the Service québécois de changement d’adresse at 514-644-4545, 1-877-644-4545. In a single step, you can advise six ministries and agencies of your new contact information:

• Régie des rentes
• Société de l’assurance automobile
• Revenu Québec
• Directeur général des élections du Québec 
• Régie de l’assurance maladie
• Ministère de l'Emploi et de la Solidarité sociale

The address change service offered by the Government of Quebec is not offered by the Government of Canada. You will therefore need to notify each the following ministries of your address change: 

• Revenue Canada
• Old Age Security
• Canada Pension Plan

Canada Post offers a service to help you avoid losing mailed bills or documents. For about $40, Canada Post can redirect your and your family’s mail (maximum of 4 names per registration) to your new address for 6 months. Ideally, you need to notify them 7 working days before you move. Simply fill out the notice of address change form at your local post office. This service is very useful if you forget to advise a company or organization of your move. Each letter addressed to your old place means you forgot to advise someone of your change of address.

Keep in mind that it is never too early to plan a move. A smart approach is to start as early as possible so that you enjoy your new home and future activities right away.

Certification confirms that the private retirement home is compliant with the requirements set out by the Ministère de Santé et des Services Sociaux. These social and health criteria are grouped into three areas: information, organization and practices.

Certification by the ministry ensures that the private retirement home is compliant and meets all of the criteria clearly stated in the regulation.

Here is a summary of some of the regulation’s sections:

• Concepts of courtesy, fairness and understanding, respect for dignity, independence and the needs of residents and their families.
• Spaces for residents to privately receive visitors.
• Access to leisure activities and community life.
• The types of information given to the resident.
• Information to be added to the record of the resident and notices given to relatives.
• Record-keeping and protection of personal information.
• Residents can access health and social services and have their health condition and psychosocial needs evaluated and monitored.
• Instructions to give to staff when the life or integrity of the resident is compromised.
• Procedures to put in place in the event of behaviour disorders associated with a loss of cognitive independence.
• Safety measures, first-aid kits and a safety plan in the case of fire.
• Required professional training and activities.
• Practice guides provided by the local health and social services centre as well as compliance with existing hygiene, health and safety regulations.
• Diet and medication administration.
• Devices and equipment provided by the operator kept in good condition and the premises are well maintained.
• General and professional liability insurance.

All Cogir residences are certified.