Documents required to enter a senior residence in Québec

Preparing documents in advance avoids delays at admission and reduces stress for the entire family. Here is the complete list, organized by category.

1. Identity documents

• Health insurance card (RAMQ) — mandatory for any interaction with the health system in Québec
• Photo ID — driver's licence, passport or identity card
• Social Insurance Number (SIN) — required for tax matters (tax credits)
• Federal Medicare card — if different from RAMQ (persons born outside Québec)

2. Medical documents

• Complete medication list — name, dosage, frequency, prescribing physician. Ask your pharmacy to print an up-to-date list
• Current prescriptions — copies of active prescriptions
• Treating physician's contact information — name, clinic, phone number
• Summary medical record — main diagnoses, recent surgeries, drug allergies
• Recent test results — blood tests, ECG, imaging if relevant
• SMAF or OCCI assessment report — required for Cat. 3–4 residences; can be obtained through the CLSC

3. Legal documents

• Protection mandate (formerly incapacity mandate) — document designating who can make decisions on behalf of the person if they become incapacitated
• General or limited power of attorney — if someone manages finances on the person's behalf
• Will — not required by the residence but important to have an accessible copy
• Advance medical directives — document specifying end-of-life care wishes (level of intervention, resuscitation)

4. Financial documents

• Last tax return — used to assess eligibility for financial assistance (housing allowance, CMD credit)
• Pension or annuity statements — OAS, QPP, private pension plan
• Banking information — for automatic debit of residence fees
• Private insurance — private health insurance, long-term care insurance if applicable

5. Documents for the residence contract

The residence will provide its own contract. Before signing, verify that you clearly understand:

• The exact list of services included in the base rate
• The fee schedule for additional services
• The cancellation terms (notice period, refund)
• The policy in case of health decline (can you stay? under what conditions?)
• The MSSS certification number of the residence (mandatory for certified RPAs)

6. What the residence may additionally request

Some residences also ask for:

• Recent photo of the person
• Contact information for family members (names, relationships, phone numbers)
• Consent form for emergency care
• Authorization form for outdoor outings

Documents to prepare for emergency placement

If you need to find a residence quickly (after a hospitalization, for example), the most urgent documents are:

1. RAMQ card
2. Medication list (ask the pharmacy or the hospital team)
3. Treating physician's name and phone number
4. Identity of the legal guardian or responsible family member

→ Complete guide for emergency placement in Montréal

→ Financial assistance for senior residences in Québec

→ Checklist for visiting a residence in Montréal

→ All Montréal residences