On Sunday, the government officially launched its Quebec Observatory of Caregivers, which will aim to better understand the challenges faced by caregivers, or about one in five Quebecers.
The observatory, made up of 13 experts, has already held some meetings but was formally appointed on Sunday by a president of its management committee in the person of Sylvie Constantineau, president of the Association québécoise des parents et amis de the person with mental illness.
This new organization – “unique in the world” according to Seniors and Care Minister Marguerite Blais – aims to make life easier for caregivers.
“Not only will the observatory do research and apply it on the ground, but we have our quantified plan of action. There are sums of money that come with it,” the minister said while announcing Ms Constantineau’s appointment at a news conference on Sunday.
In order to simplify the lives of family carers, the Observatory must above all reach out to them.
“It’s important to understand who these people are. […] You have to meet them, understand what’s going on, their needs, their desires,” explained the Observatory’s Scientific Director, Dr. Olivier Beauchet.
“The observatory is a solver. He will be interested in people’s problems, understand them and work out solutions together with the caregivers,” he added.
At the same time, Minister Blais also filled the leadership positions of the Committee of Partners Concerned with Support for Informal Caregivers, a group of 17 members responsible for “formulating recommendations or opinions to the Minister [des Proches aidants]”.