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Forces-sante
Francophones
Observatory
Health and Services
Collaborative Research

Science capsule

Long-Term Care and Services for Francophone Seniors in Ontario

Key findings:
  • Access to French-language services remains inequitable despite increasing recognition of linguistic needs.
  • A lack of bilingual resources weakens the active offer of services in French.
  • Language barriers impede communication, contribute to social isolation, and place additional burdens on caregivers.
  • Practical strategies are identified to enhance the delivery of French-language care and services.

In the spotlight

Events

Colloquium To come
Joint CNFS-ACUFC Symposium on the Health of OLMCs

As the renewal of the Action Plan for Official Languages in 2028, this symposium provides a forum to assess progress in the health of OLMCs, share knowledge, and reflect on future priorities.

October 20 and 21, 2026

Call for Participants
Qualitative Study on the Perceptions of OLMCs: Access to Health Services…

Do you speak English and live in Quebec? How do you experience access to health care services in English?

Share your experiences in an online discussion with other people living in an OLMC.

September 30, 2026

ACFAS
Colloque 109 – Santé, langue et culture

A space for discussion and dissemination of research on the integration of linguistic and cultural dimensions into the organization of health and social services.

UQTR, May 13, 2026 (in French)

Webinar
Définir et mesurer les francophonies minoritaires

Which language variables are available in health surveys, and how do they influence research on Francophone minority communities (FMCs)?

See the presentations given during this FORCES-Santé webinar

April 2,  2026 (In French)

Webinar
Accès aux services de santé et sociaux en français : la co-construction d’une norme

With the participation of:
Lise Richard, SSF
Patricia Wade, HSO/Accreditation Canada
François Larocque, University of Ottawa

Watch the recording of this webinar organised by SSF and FORCES-Santé

February 25, 2026 (in French)

    Publications

    Article
    Access to a telehealth falls prevention program: Mixed-method analysis from a health equity perspective

    J. O’Neil et al. (2026)

    Telehealth can improve access to falls prevention services, provided its implementation takes into account the needs and realities of Francophone minority communities.

    Article
    Patient–physician language concordance and long-term mortality…

    M. Reaume et al. (2026)

    Among Francophones living outside Quebec, those who receive care in their own language have an 11% lower risk of death (HR 0.89; 95% CI: 0.79–1.00).

    Article
    Language at the Heart of Francophones’ Health‑Care Experiences in New Brunswick: An Exploratory Study…

    S.-E. Hébert et al. (2027)

    Linguistic discordance does not only compromise communication; it also affects patients’ sense of safety, trust in the healthcare system, and the exercise of French-speaking patients’ language rights.

    Article
    Linguistic Obligations and Health Research: An Analysis of CIHR’s Engagement with FMCs
    C. Pelbois & L. Bouchard (2027)

    The analysis shows that the specific needs of FMCs remain insufficiently recognized in research funding mechanisms, despite recent legislative changes.

    Article
    Differences in Experiences with Episodic Virtual Care Based on Language… in New Brunswick

    F. Gallant et al. (2026)

    Although few quantitative differences were observed, respondents’ comments highlighted linguistic inequities and the need for health technologies that are better adapted to users’ needs.

    Article
    Official Language Minority Communities in Ontario: (In)visibility of Nursing Care

    M. Muray et al. (2026)

    The study highlights a paradox of (in)visibility: French-speaking patients and professionals often compensate for systemic gaps, yet must also make themselves visible to advocate for equitable care, underscoring the need for a more coherent implementation of French-language health services.

    Article
    Mental Health Support Services: Better Meeting the Needs of Francophone Postsecondary Students in Minority Settings

    D. de Moissac et al. (2026)

    Students’ mental health remains a concern, with high levels of psychological distress. Although services are widely used, access to French‑language, diversified, and stigma‑free resources remains essential to adequately meet their needs.

    Article
    Experiences and Perspectives of Caregivers of Francophone Older Adults Accessing Community Health Services…

    E. K. Boyd et al. (2025)

    From interviews with caregivers of patients who had undergone geriatric assessment at the Centre Francophone du Grand Toronto (CFGT), this study reveals that a significant gap remains in French-language services for older adults in the GTA, leading to increased challenges for their caregivers.

    Thematic issue
    Going the Distance: a Cross-Sectional Geospatial Analysis… Access to French-Language Primary Care…

    C. Belanger et al. (2026)

    This cross-sectional geospatial study demonstrates a new way to measure primary care access using average travel time to the nearest five English- and French-speaking family physicians. It also introduce the concept of primary care access fragility, where a region’s primary care accessmay depend on one or a few local family physicians.

    Article
    Health Data for Linguistic Minority Group Research in Canada: Proof-of-Concept..

    V. Martin-Schreiber et al. (2026)

    This study demonstrates the feasibility of establishing a national health metadata repository, an essential infrastructure for better leveraging Canadian administrative data and strengthening research on linguistic issues in health. about what data are available at which data holdings across Canada.

    Article
    Insight into Post-Pandemic Needs in Healthcare and Well-Being… in the Canadian Prairies

    C. Keough et al. (2026)

    This study on post-pandemic health and well-being needs among 319 Francophone families in three provinces revealed three common high-priority needs : (1) access to recreational, sports, and arts activities in French for children; (2) access to Francophone health care professionals; and (3) social activities in French for families.

    Article
    Active Offer of Services in Canada’s Official Languages: Development of a Patient Experience Questionnaire

    K. Sauvé-Schenk et al. (2026)

    This study led to the development and validation of the first bilingual questionnaire designed to measure patients’ experiences with the active offer of services in both official languages, providing a new tool for assessing the linguistic quality of outpatient care.

    Article
    Prolonged Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Well-being and Roles of Family/Friend Caregivers of Older Adults…

    J. Savard et al. (2026)

    The study highlights a persistent increase in care provided by families or friends during and after the pandemic, with negative impacts on the health of caregivers, in addition to access challenge in minority language communities.

    Thematic issue
    Health in Canada’s Francophone Minority Context: Twenty Years of Research

    L. Bouchard et J. Savard (dir.) (2024)

    16 articles, 54 authors, and themes ranging from laws and regulations to user experiences, including health status, service offerings, and the availability of bilingual human resources.

    Report
    Research in French and Substantive Equality: An Opportunity

    External Advisory Panel on the… (2026)

    French-language research continues to face structural barriers. Investing in this field would strengthen both linguistic duality and scientific innovation in Canada.

    Report
    Breaking Down Language Barriers in Health Care…

    Standing Senate Committee… (2026)

    This report on health services in the minority language summarizes the testimony heard and written submissions received between April 2023 and November 2024. It presents 14 recommendations for the federal government.

    Report
    Home Care Experiences and Language Challenges in Ontario: Perspectives… 

    S. van Kemenade et al. (2026)

    The language discordance between care providers and service users increases the burden on family caregivers, who must coordinate care and services and act as interpreters, which can take away from their respite time. In some cases, language barriers can lead to service users withdrawing their requests for services. 

      Data showcase

      Browse and discover maps and charts on the Francophone population and French-language health services.

      Library

      Consult our reference database on health and services in official language minority communities. 

      Let's bring science and communities together to improve equity, access, and quality of care in French in all minority situations across Canada.


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