Their involvement in the spheres of social life is an invaluable contribution to the vitality of Quebec society. This commitment requires to be autonomous and active and depends on the physical and mental health of the senior. Indeed the alteration of health leads to a loss of autonomy - i.e. the inability to perform acts of daily living - which results in social isolation and the use of supportive services and care to remain at home or in seniors' residences. Seniors are the most exposed to loss of autonomy, social isolation and high consumption of health and social services such as home support services and care. The main reason is the fragility of their health due to the accumulation of chronic illnesses that generate disabilities and therefore loss of autonomy. 84% of seniors in Quebec have at least one chronic disease and one in ten report a disability that causes them to need help with daily activities.

Without resources to compensate for a loss of autonomy, the senior becomes more fragile and risks losing his or her place and social role, and experiencing a deterioration in his or her condition and quality of life, which may lead to the impossibility of continuing to live at home, whether in a personal home or a residence for seniors.