MONTREAL -- The Minister Responsible for Seniors and Informal Caregivers Marguerite Blais wants to involve residents in the beautification of the province's residential and long-term care centres (CHSLD).

At a news conference in Montreal Sunday morning, the minister announced the allocation of $5 million to redevelop certain spaces of CHSLDs in collaboration with the residents' committees.

The committees will be able to determine how these funds should be used jointly with the health and social services (CISSS) management, whether to purchase furniture or redecorate.

Blais explained that she wanted to involve residents so that CHSLDs more closely resemble their home environment.

The small projects could include changing the curtains, painting a mural, installing an outdoor garden or purchasing an aquarium.

"We want to keep the personality of each establishment," said Blais.

According to the government, a more familiar living environment would reduce restlessness, anxiety and aggressiveness in the people who live there.

FILLING A GAP

The $5 million will be divided between the various public and private CHSLDs in the province based on the number of beds.

With the announced creation of 2,600 new spaces in the future "Homes for the Elderly" and "Alternative Homes," the minister said that CHSLD residents will not be left behind.

Some 2,500 existing places in CHSLDs will be renovated or rebuilt in parallel, said Blais, who did not rule out the possibility of transforming the $5 million announced Sunday into a recurring envelope.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 23, 2020.