In Québec, a promising model is emerging at the intersection of community-based care, digital innovation, and collaborative systems design. Building on the proven social geriatrics approach developed by Fondation AGES and integrating digital tools such as the Braver application — with support from the Harfang program (led by CTS – Catalyseur Technologies Santé) — stakeholders in the Lanaudière region are advancing the next evolution of a “caring community” approach, combining human and technological coordination.
At the heart of this approach is Fondation AGES’ social geriatrics model, designed to address accelerated ageing—a form of rapid decline often driven by a
combination of social isolation, loss of autonomy, and unmet needs.
This model is distinguished by its deliberate integration of social and clinical perspectives, linking community-based detection with clinical expertise to support a
more comprehensive understanding of each situation and a more coordinated response to the needs of aging adults.
Unlike traditional healthcare systems that rely heavily on institutional care, social geriatrics is rooted in proximity and prevention. It mobilises people already present in the community to recognize early signs of ageing and to act before situations deteriorate.
In practice, the social geriatrics model relies on trained community members—often referred to as sentinels—who recognise early warning signs during everyday interactions. When concerns are identified, and with the individual’s consent, alerts are relayed to a navigator trained by Fondation AGES. The navigator conducts in- home visits to assess the situation more thoroughly, identifies needs in collaboration with the individual, and coordinates appropriate actions. Beyond simple referral, the navigator actively supports the person by helping identify solutions, coordinating services, and complementing the work of healthcare professionals.
This approach enables earlier, more personalised intervention, strengthens trust, and helps reduce fragmentation between community and healthcare systems.
In this rural territory, characterised by its isolation from urban centres, low population density, and an ageing demographic, stakeholders are working to build on this
foundation.
The initiative brings together the CISSS de Lanaudière (the region’s integrated health and social services authority), the Centre d’action bénévole communautaire Matawinie (CABCM)—a community-based volunteer organization that provides services for older adults—Fondation AGES, and innovation partners to design a caring community adapted to local realities. Through CABCM, a network of trained volunteers— “Les Éclaireurs” (community outreach volunteers)—supports the identification of at-risk individuals and maintains close contact with vulnerable populations, in coordination with local health and community teams.
The next step is to strengthen how these signals are translated into coordinated action.
This is where the integration of a secure digital communication platform, such as the Braver digital application, becomes particularly relevant.
Braver is a secure communication platform designed to facilitate exchanges between healthcare professionals, community organisations, caregivers, and other
stakeholders involved in supporting individuals.
Rather than replacing existing relationships, its role is to enhance coordination—enabling information to be shared quickly, securely, and with full traceability. In contexts where multiple actors operate across large distances, this type of tool can reduce delays, improve continuity, and support more aligned interventions.
While Braver has been assessed in the context of social geriatrics, its integration within a caring community approach in Haute-Matawinie remains in an exploratory and planning phase. This positions the region as a valuable testbed for understanding how digital tools can effectively support community-based care in real-world rural conditions.
The Harfang program, developed by CTS (Catalyseur Technologies Santé), supports this initiative by connecting frontline healthcare needs in rural communities with
relevant technological solutions.
Harfang works closely with regional stakeholders to clarify priorities, co-design care pathways, and identify innovations that can be realistically implemented within existing ecosystems. A distinctive feature of the program is its dual support approach—accompanying both the organisations adopting new practices (the “milieupreneur”) and the technology providers themselves.
In Haute-Matawinie, this has included collaborative workshops and ongoing engagement with clinical, community, and innovation partners to ensure that the emerging model is grounded in real operational needs and supported by all actors involved.
The Haute-Matawinie initiative represents an important step in the evolution of caring communities in Québec. By building on a proven community-based model and
integrating digital coordination tools, it aims to create a more connected, responsive, and sustainable approach to supporting older adults in rural settings.
While still in development, this work highlights a broader shift—from fragmented, reactive systems toward preventive, locally anchored models of care. It also underscores an essential principle: that meaningful innovation in healthcare does not come from technology alone, but from the thoughtful integration of people, practices, and tools.
As similar challenges emerge worldwide, particularly in underserved regions, Québec’s experience offers valuable insights into how communities can come together to support ageing with dignity—starting not from institutions, but from within the community itself.
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