The research report aims to define the boundaries between philanthropic and governmental intervention in the cause of elderly people in Quebec. The elderly population of Quebec was hit full force by COVID-19. They were those most vulnerable to the pandemic, particularly those living in long term care homes, many of whom were among its victims. Furthermore, the public health crisis highlighted the blatant lack of resources available to respond to the difficulties faced by the most vulnerable elderly population. These difficulties have gotten worse recently: isolation, poverty, insecurity, psychological distress, unmet and increasing health care needs, etc.
With the insufficient involvement of the State and the growing needs brought to light by organizations working on the ground, grant making foundations have progressively been led to fill the gaps of State interventions dedicated to the elderly.
Faced with increased demands for support, grant making foundations have decided to invest themselves more in the situation of the elderly. It is however important to make a distinction between foundations that already included the elderly in their missions (such as is the case with the Fondation Mirella et Lino Saputo) and those who made this choice recently in response to the needs accentuated by the pandemic. It is also important to determine the limits of their responsibility in response to this cause.
Read the research paper: Regards croisés sur les dons des fondations subventionnaires et la subsidiarité de l’État en lien avec la cause aînée — Phase I
Research paper by Diane Alalouf-Hall and Jean-Marc Fontan, of PhiLab, and Lise Roche of the Saputo Foundation
