Deputies and senators agree on the proposed law on “aging well”

They (finally) agreed. A joint committee bringing together seven deputies and seven senators adopted, Tuesday March 12, a compromise on “good behavior”. After a long parliamentary journey, which began almost a year ago, the text “taking measures to build a society of healthy aging in France”, supported by the government, will be able to be definitively adopted after a final vote of the two chambers, the March 19 in the Assembly and March 27 in the Senate.

Deputies and senators agreed on various key measures in the text, such as the creation of a professional card to facilitate recognition of the work of home workers, or the inclusion in law of the right to visit nursing homes, after the trauma many families during the Covid-19 crisis. Residents of nursing homes will also have the right, under certain conditions, to welcome their pet.

A future text on old age?

“We are providing clear and pragmatic answers with this proposed law”welcomed Renaissance MP Annie Vidal, rapporteur to the Assembly on this text, nevertheless still affirming “wait for a government bill to determine the objectives and financing of the old age sector”. “To succeed in the residential shift, improve accommodation conditions in nursing homes (…) deeper reforms and increased resources are necessary”added Les Républicains senator Philippe Mouiller in a press release.

This major law on autonomy, promised by the executive but repeatedly postponed, must outline the contours of multi-year programming for the sector. But its timetable remains very uncertain. The proposed law on aging well itself refers to this multi-year law by requiring the government to present it to Parliament before the end of 2024.