Newsletter April 27, 2020
RPCU stays the course
While the Government of Quebec is preparing its plan for progressive deconfinement, COVID-19 continues to wreak havoc in long-term care facilities. The RPCU is staying the course to represent and support the users’ and residents’ committees that are the guardians of the 12 rights of users of the health and social services network.
RPCU’s voice in the media
Advocacy for better handling of health complaints
The RPCU calls for full independence of the Complaints Commissioners, which would protect them from pressure from their employers. The proximity between the settlement managers and the commissioners is problematic, according to the Regroupement’s Executive Director, Patricia M. Gagné, in an article published by Radio-Canada.ca.
The ABCs of CHSLDs
On Friday, the Executive Director of RPCU was interviewed on Ici Radio-Canada Mauricie – Centre-du-Québec. In addition to the distinctions to be made between the different types of CHSLDs, Patricia M. Gagné also discussed the need to implement standards in non-regulated CHSLDs.
People on the autistic spectrum and people with intellectual disability infected
The Association québécoise des comités des usagers en déficience intellectuelle et en trouble du spectre de l’autisme also made its voice heard this week. In the pages of Le Devoir, the Association demanded better access to this vulnerable clientele. “This is all the more important in the context of the potentially explosive pandemic,” says its president. “There are users who have difficulty communicating on the phone,” says Manon Pedneault.
Watch | 24 • 60
The Executive Director of RPCU, Patricia M. Gagné, will participate Friday May 1 at 7 p.m. in a special edition of the magazine 24 • 60 on RDI. The program, hosted by Anne-Marie Dussault, will focus on the way out of the crisis affecting CHSLDs.
Pandemic Videoconference Schedule Change
The videoconferences initiated by RPCU at the beginning of the pandemic continue with two weekly appointments starting this week.
– Thursday, April 30 3:00 p.m. (French)
– Friday, 1 May 3 p.m. (English)
If you wish to exchange with other committee members on your practices in a pandemic situation and inform your group of your experiences, we invite you to participate in these virtual meetings aimed at promoting the sharing of experiences and best practices.
To obtain the codes to connect, please contact us.
Special Section COVID-19
We continue to gather useful news and information on VIDOC-19 and the role of user committees in the context of the pandemic in a special section of our site. We invite you to consult this week’s updates.
Quebec government initiatives aimed at seniors and their loved ones
Directives to the health and social services network regarding caregivers
Human Rights and COVID-19
Two FAQs from the Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse in the context of a pandemic.
Consult our special section COVID-19
Nominations open for 2020 Awards of Excellence
You can now submit nominations for the RPCU 2020 Awards of Excellence, which will be presented at Congress 2020. These awards, presented annually, recognize the work accomplished by the users’ and residents’ committees to improve the quality of services offered to users of the health and social services network and the respect of their rights.
You can nominate a person or a committee in one of the following four categories: information, promotion, defence of rights and accompaniment.
For more information on the Awards of Excellence
To submit an application (New: online form)
To submit an application (form to download)
Denis-Marceau Award
The procedure for submitting a nomination for the Prix Denis-Marceau will be announced in June. Instituted in 2018, this award honours the memory of a man who greatly contributed to the defence of users’ rights, both within RPCU and the Sherbrooke UHC Users’ Committee.
The Prix Denis-Marceau is awarded to a committee of users or residents, or to a member of a committee who has distinguished himself in an exemplary manner in the defence of the rights of users of the health and social services network.
Webinar | Caregiving and Bereavement in Times of Pandemic
May 6 at 11 a.m.
In order to support family caregivers who are dealing with grief during this pandemic period, RPCU invites members of users and residents’ committees to participate in a webinar on Wednesday, May 6 at 11:00 a.m.
Mélanie Vachon, professor in the Department of Psychology at UQAM, will be the guest speaker. Ms. Vachon holds a doctorate in psychology from the Université de Montréal and did postdoctoral studies at McGill University. She worked for several years as a psychologist in a specialized palliative care unit offering support and accompaniment to people at the end of life and to families experiencing loss and bereavement.
Member section of the rpcu.qc.ca
Register to access a host of tools and documents useful for the smooth functioning of your committee.
RPCU is the guardian of users’ rights.
The RPCU brings together the committees that are mandated by the MSSS to be the guardians of users’ rights in all regions. It provides committee members with daily support and training to better perform their statutory duties in addition to representing them in the public space.