Hiring a Private Companion for a Loved One in a Montreal Residence

Last updated: July 2026

Your loved one lives in a certified private seniors' residence (RPA) in Montreal, but you've noticed they need more individual attention than the residence's staff can provide alongside all other residents. Perhaps they have mild dementia that calls for a continuously reassuring presence. Perhaps they're recovering from a hospitalization. Perhaps you'd simply like someone to accompany them to medical appointments. In all these situations, hiring a private companion — sometimes called a home support aide or personal care assistant — can be a practical solution, even within a residence.

What is a private companion?

A private companion is someone hired directly by the family (or the senior themselves) to provide personalized support on top of the residence's services. They are not a residence employee. They are paid by the family, and their role is clearly distinct from that of the internal staff.

What a private companion can do:

• Keep the resident company: chat, play cards, do puzzles, watch films together.
• Accompany to medical appointments, the hairdresser or family outings.
• Help with slow or difficult eating — without replacing clinical feeding care.
• Remind the resident to drink water or take medication already prepared and set out by the nursing staff.
• Read aloud, manage music or lead activities tailored to the individual.
• Reassure a resident with mild dementia during anxious periods, often in the evenings.
• Report daily updates to the family.

What a private companion cannot do:

• Administer medications (a reserved act for nurses or specially trained care aides).
• Perform clinical or nursing care.
• Make medical decisions.
• Replace residence staff in their official duties.

Residence rules: what to confirm before hiring

Before bringing a private companion into the residence, speak with management first. Key points to clarify:

• Access restrictions: some residences limit outside persons in rooms or common areas for safety or privacy reasons regarding other residents.
• Background check: many residences require any external service provider to present a valid criminal background check. Request one from whoever you hire.
• Access zones: the residence may limit where the companion can go — the resident's room only, not care areas.
• Permitted hours: some residences apply their visiting-hours policy to external companions as well.
• Chain of communication: the companion must understand clearly that health concerns go to the residence's nursing staff — not straight to the family while bypassing the residence.

Get the residence's agreement in writing. It protects everyone and clarifies responsibilities.

How to find a good private companion

The private companion market in Quebec is lightly regulated. Due diligence is important.

Specialized agencies

Home care or senior support agencies recruit, train and supervise companions. Advantages: background checks already done, guaranteed replacement when the companion is absent, insurance in place. Drawback: generally higher cost than direct hire (often $28–$45/hour depending on service level).

Direct hire

You can hire directly through networks like Kijiji, caregiver Facebook groups or personal referrals. Advantages: flexibility, the chance to find someone well-matched to your loved one's personality, potentially lower cost. Drawbacks: you must arrange the background check yourself, obtain liability insurance and handle any payroll obligations (source deductions if you are the employer).

Community organizations and volunteers

Some community organizations offer friendly-visit or volunteer companion programs. These are not full-time services, but they can meet a social connection need at no cost.

Costs and coverage

Rates for a private companion vary based on:

• Level of training (PAB-trained vs. companion without clinical training).
• Number of hours per week (a regular contract may bring a lower hourly rate).
• Time of day (nights and weekends cost more).
• Location (central Montreal vs. suburbs).

As a general range, companionship services (without medical care) run approximately $20–$35/hour for a direct hire and $28–$45/hour through an agency. Ask for specific quotes before committing.

These expenses may be partly covered by Quebec's crédit d'impôt pour le maintien à domicile des aînés (tax credit for home support for seniors), if eligibility conditions are met. Consult an accountant or Revenu Québec for details. Some private or group insurance plans may also contribute. See our guide on financial assistance for seniors in residences in Quebec.

Integrating the companion into residence life

For the arrangement to work smoothly for your loved one, the companion and residence staff need to operate in sync:

• Introduce the companion to key staff from the start: the reference nurse, the PAB, the activities coordinator.
• Clarify roles: the companion should not relay medical concerns only to the family — they should inform the residence nurse directly.
• Set up a simple daily log (a notebook or brief daily text message) to keep the family informed.
• Reassess regularly (every 4–6 weeks) whether needs have changed and whether the companion is still the right fit.

FAQ: private companion in a seniors' residence

Can the residence refuse to allow a private companion?

In principle, a residence cannot bar a resident from having a trusted person in their room — it is their home. However, the residence can set reasonable conditions (background check, access hours). Talk to management before presenting anyone, to avoid friction. If a residence refuses categorically without valid reason, consult the CAAP or a legal advisor about your rights.

Can a companion manage my loved one's medications?

No, unless they are a licensed health professional (nurse, LPN). Reminding someone to take a medication already prepared and set out by the nurse differs from administering it. When in doubt, clarify with the director of care at the residence.

Can the residence require the companion to be certified or insured?

Yes, and that is often a reasonable requirement. Some residences ask for proof of liability insurance from the person or agency. Include this in your contract with the companion or agency — it protects everyone.

How do we know if the companion is doing a good job?

Observe your loved one's mood and demeanour during your own visits. Ask nursing staff whether the companion is respectful and cooperative. Talk directly to your loved one — even with reduced cognitive capacity, most seniors express clearly whether they feel comfortable or uneasy with a person.