Unpacking the Sky-High Costs of Quebec's Senior Homes (MDA): A Tale of Exorbitant Price Tags and Missing Oversight
Elderly Care Homes: Identifying the Parties Involved in Disregard
In the past few days, the Quebec seniors' homes (MDA) scandal has taken the spotlight, with mind-boggling figures of up to 1.8 million dollars per room. This whopping expense is a subject of contention among the highest-ranking officials of the Quebec government. Say goodbye to subtlety; it's time to dive headfirst into this nail-biting saga!
Let's kick things off with the tempest in a teapot at the National Assembly on Thursday morning. Talk about a grilling! Opposition parties wasted no time interrogating Prime Minister François Legault about the MDA, one of his government's pet projects. The average cost per room? A startling 800,000$. Feel free to remind yourself of these astonishing numbers, as I'll probably drop them again.
You know what's equally disappointing? The fact that many MDA show costs even higher than the average, often soaring above the million-dollar mark and touching the 1.8 million per door. A grand total of 2.6 billion dollars has already been spent on this project so far. Liberal leader Marc Tanguay didn't hold back, calling it a waste and cost overruns during a heated debate.
PM Legault deflected the criticism by accusing those asking questions of disrespecting the seniors—an argument that is, quite frankly, nonsensical. In the PM's warped logic, questioning astronomical costs would be downright disrespectful to our elderly populations. What's next, charging exorbitant fees for flowers on their birthday because, you know, shows of affection would be disrespectful towards senior citizens?
I sincerely hope that opposition parties continue to prodding the government about this Olympic-sized financial black hole. And I pray that journalists keep digging into this story, for if the emails I've received from MDA employees, contractors, and family members are any indication, we've barely cracked the surface.
Out on the Blue Salon, Prime Minister Legault responded to Quebec Solidaire leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon's questions about the high cost of the MDA with this gem: "I find it quite peculiar that the Quebec Party finds what we're doing for our seniors too good."
See, neither the PQ nor anyone else claims the project is "too good"! What they take issue with is its exorbitant cost. Let me repeat it for better emphasis: "too expensive."
I'd like to emphasize an important point here: I don't advocate cutting corners on the quality of care and infrastructure for seniors. Nor do I want to see them crammed into dreary facilities, like some of the old CHSLDs.
The MDA project, designed by a panel of geriatric experts, aims to abandon those depressing models. With bright living spaces and organization into small "houses" of 12 rooms, these new residences encourage socialization and better maintenance of residents' health.
The project is worth lauding. There are numerous benefits.
But the execution is where it's gone horribly awry. The average cost of 800,000$ per room leaves a lot to be desired, especially when private companies have built similar resources for a fraction of the price.
Consider the CHSLD Manoir Harwood in Vaudreuil-Dorion, near Montreal. A 150-room complex was built during the pandemic for a cost of 280,000$ per "door." The same project would now cost approximately 350,000$ per unit, estimates its owner, Jean-François Blanchard.
What brings me to another eyebrow-raising statement made by the Minister responsible for Seniors, Sonia Bélanger, on Thursday. She dismissed any similarity between the MDA and resources like the CHSLD Manoir Harwood. "We can't compare it to the private sector, it's not the same thing at all," she insisted to journalists.
The Minister should consider revisiting Vaudreuil-Dorion, for the Manoir Harwood offers almost the same services as an MDA—complete with a comprehensive medical offer, a staff of over 330 employees, and smaller homes of nine patients.
"I'm surprised the Minister said that," was Jean-François Blanchard's only response when I called him on Thursday. I'm equally astonished and worried—is there no one in charge?
The heart of the problem with the MDA lies in the lack of proper oversight. With several captains on the ship, it's no wonder the compass is off, and no one takes the helm.
To get a clearer picture, I had to send questions to various entities—the Quebec Infrastructure Society, Health Quebec, Sonia Bélanger's office—to grasp the costs, the number of available places, and staffing levels in the MDA. Sadly, it turns out that there are 2784 residents for 3480 completed places in around 40 MDA, resulting in hundreds of vacant rooms and an unknown number of missing employees.
Not reassuring, is it?
So there you have it: the MDA scandal, in all its eye-popping, jaw-dropping glory. It's only the tip of the iceberg, folks; we've barely scratched the surface. Stay tuned as the story unfolds!
- Quebecers have been surprised by the astronomical costs associated with the MDA senior homes, with some rooms costing up to 1.8 million dollars.
- The MDA project, meant to improve health and wellness, including mental health, for seniors, has faced criticisms regarding its cost overruns, with an average cost of 800,000 dollars per room.
- The science behind the MDA's design, aiming to create brighter living spaces and smaller "houses" for seniors, is worth commendation, but the execution has been marred by high costs and a lack of proper oversight.
- The comparison between the MDA and private senior facilities, such as the CHSLD Manoir Harwood, which offers similar services for a fraction of the price, highlights the need for increased scrutiny and accountability in the management of the MDA project.
