Special Care Afforded to the Elderly (in Quebec)

By Hubert Bauch, Gazette

March 14, 2008

Canada

In a budget with no big winners, seniors, at least, came out somewhat ahead.

Measures for the elderly in the provincial budget include tax breaks and increased funding for services to seniors.

The new measures will add $1 billion to government spending on seniors' programs over the next five years. Of that, $35 million a year will go toward an increase in the tax credit for home-support expenses, which the budget boosts to 30 per cent from 25 per cent for people over 70.

When these measures are fully implemented, an elderly couple living at home with one income of $25,000 would get a $3,300 benefit by 2011, for example.

The government also will spend an additional $80 million to step up the development of home-support services for the elderly.

The intent is to develop home nursing and rehabilitation services, as well as other services to allow people who need such assistance to continue living in their own homes instead of being confined to nursing homes.

"Since 2003, we have more than doubled the tax assistance and budgetary appropriations for home support," Finance Minister Monique Jérôme-Forget said. "We are fulfilling the wish of seniors to remain at home as long as possible."

The budget also provides assistance for those who assist the elderly, with tax breaks and funding for so-called informal caregivers, who in most cases are family members.

Such caregivers will be eligible for a tax credit to cover part of the expenses incurred in their functions. Those with lower incomes will get higher credits. For example, a caregiver with an income of $15,000 and expenses of $5,200 would get a $1,500 credit, which drops to $810 for one with an income of $75,000.

Jérôme-Forget also announced the establishment of a $200-million fund in partnership with a private charitable foundation to improve and develop services for informal caregivers. These would include emergency services, respite services and training for the care of elderly loved ones.

"Informal caregivers play an important role in our society," Jérôme-Forget said. "The acts they perform demonstrate solidarity and compassion. We must recognize their essential role and support them."

The budget also raises the maximum amount of the tax credit for retirement income to $2,000 from $1,500. The measure is expected to benefit 400,000 taxpayers and come into effect over two years. When fully in effect, the measure will mean a $90 saving for those with incomes below $25,000 to a maximum of $132 for those with incomes between $50,000 and $75,000.

The measures I am announcing today will improve the quality of life for our seniors," Jérôme-Forget said. "There is a consensus on the need to better meet their needs and with this budget, we are giving ourselves the means to provide them with better support."

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