Is there a minimum age required in order to become a resident?

There is no minimum age requirement, although the principal mandate of the Centre is to provide long-term care to the geriatric community. While the average age of our residents is 86, we also have some residents in their forties, fifties and sixties.

How long will we have to wait until a bed is available?

The waiting time for a bed depends on a number of factors, including the number of requests for admission, the urgency of each case, the number of hours of nursing care required, and the gender of the resident (public and semi-private rooms are separated by gender).

Do I need to hire a companion?

While some residents or their families choose to have a companion attend to some of their needs for a specific number of hours per day or week, there is no requirement to have a companion with you.

The Jewish Eldercare Centre has issued a Policy on Companions, a copy of which may be obtained from the Admissions Office or from your Head Nurse.
The policy specifies that companions must not perform certain specific responsibilities for your care. For your safety and well being, only our nursing staff must handle these specific tasks, and it is important that any companion you hire be made aware of our policies and follows them without exception.

Is the Jewish Eldercare Centre a private or public institution?

We are a public institution, funded primarily by the Quebec Ministry of Health and Social Services.

Does the Jewish Eldercare Centre provide Kosher meals?

Recognizing the importance of religious faith to its residents, the Centre rigorously follows all Judaic customs and practices. All meals are prepared and delivered according to the strict rules of Kashruth, under the supervision of the Vaad Ha’ir (Jewish Community Council of Montreal). Non-Kosher food is not permitted on the premises.

What are the visiting hours at the Centre?

Families and friends of the residents may visit at any time, however for security reasons, we ask all visitors to comply with the following rules:

After 10pm, visitors must enter the Centre through the Victoria Street entrance and sign the registration book at the security desk. Once on the unit, visitors must inform the nursing staff of their presence. During night hours, visitors must be careful not to disturb the sleep of other residents.

The privacy of other residents must be respected at all time.

Inside semi-private or 4-bed rooms, a maximum of 2 visitors are permitted at any one time. When the number of visitors exceeds 2, the living room area or the private family rooms may be used. The nursing station will provide access and other help if needed.

When taking a resident out of the nursing unit, or whenever a resident returns, nursing staff on the unit must be informed.

What should I bring with me upon admission?

When first arriving at your new home, please bring the following items with you:

• Daytime clothing and pyjamas or nightgowns. An 8-day supply of clothing is the minimum recommended. Clothing that is machine washable and easy to care for is strongly suggested. Dresses with zippers are preferred since they are easier to put on and buttons frequently fall off during laundering.


If you are confined to a wheelchair, you will need clothing that is looser fitting than you would normally wear. This allows for comfort and ease of dressing. The Occupational Therapist will be able to provide more information about adapted clothing, which is available from certain suppliers.

Avoid clothing that requires dry cleaning, since this service is not available on the premises. However, an outside cleaning service is available at regular dry cleaning prices.

All clothing must be labelled with your name by the laundry services department, within the first five days of arriving at the Centre – whether or not you plan to use the private laundry service. The labelling helps identify any misplaced clothing items, and is performed at a nominal additional cost.


• Non-slip footwear and slippers.
  
  
• Personal care items: toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, hairbrush, comb, soap, shampoos and conditioners, deodorant, body lotions, electric shaver (for safety reasons, manual razors are forbidden), denture containers and cleaning tablets or solutions, denture adhesives, make-up, paper tissues, etc.
  
  
• For visits to our gardens or for summer outings: sunscreen, sunhat, sunglasses and insect repellent.
  
  
• Telephone (Touch Phone/ hearing or visual impaired adapted equipment). A personal extension number is available at a standard fee, which will be added to your monthly statement.
  
  
• Your Medicare card and Social Insurance Number.
  
  
• A copy of your Mandate, Power of Attorney or Living Will, if available.
  
  
• A wheelchair, walker or cane, if you presently own any of these items in good condition.
  
  
• Photos and mementos, which will bring back special memories as you adjust to your new surroundings. Please do not bring valuable jewellery, artwork and other items, as we cannot guarantee their security.
  
  
• DO NOT bring any medications with you when you arrive at the Centre. All medications will be provided by our on-site pharmacy.
  
  

Who will take care of my laundry?

A free laundry service is also offered at the Centre. Please advise the admissions officer when arriving at the Centre, or your head nurse at any other time. Your clothing will be picked up once a week, laundered, and returned to you within 2 days.

All clothing must be labelled with your name by the laundry services department, within the first five days of arriving at the Centre – whether or not you plan to use the laundry service. The labelling helps identify any misplaced clothing items, and is performed at a nominal additional cost.