Michèle Charpentier's book explores the idea of government's sharing, with private and community resources, the responsibility for services for the frail elderly. Charpentier addresses the issue of the emergence of private residences, within the context of the evolution of the Quebec government. This book traces the history of Quebec policies on support of the frail elderly, discusses the social, ethical, and legal stakes involved in the development of private residences, and presents the points of view of different stakeholders affected by this dilemma. Charpentier's book proves to be both a rich and nuanced reflection on the legitimacy of the government's intervention, as well as on the opportunities for development available to the government, in the housing sector in particular, and on a broader scale, in the general area of services for the fragile elderly.