A reception center for the elderly has just been closed for lack of hygiene and safety. The case takes place in Charleval, a small village of less than 3,000 inhabitants north of the Bouches-du-Rhône, between Mallemort and La Roque d’Anthéron.
Ten retirees aged 78 to 92 and one disabled adult aged 46, hosted by a private couple, had to be evacuated Thursday morning. The prefecture, which issued an order, evokes “sheltering vulnerable people”.
“If there had been a fire, I think it would have been catastrophic” – the mayor of Charleval
On France Bleu Provence, the mayor of Charleval, Yves Wigt, evokes unworthy reception conditions: “there were very, very, very limited hygienic conditions (he insists, sic) not to say anything else. Three people in one room, with clothes piled up in the corners. There are no emergency exits, nothing classified as fire. The roommate, when you rent to young students who manage and make their own meals, it’s fine, but there, everyone is dependent. So sell meals without hygiene rules, or regular checks as in real nursing homes, fire safety, etc. Even if they were only eleven, if there had been a fire, I think it would have been catastrophic “.
Since the evacuation of the premises Thursday morning, Yves Wigt admits “sleep better”. Beyond the rules of hygiene and safety, the mayor of Charleval, denounces several violations of the town planning code. “The building permit I granted was for an agricultural shed. Not for interior work.” The prefecture accuses the host family of exercising a regulated activity without authorization, the approval never having been issued by the Bouches-du-Rhône department.
“It’s not a fake Ehpad” – Valérie Del Maschio
France Bleu Provence met the couple implicated. He is a former market gardener, she is a caregiver. Both defend themselves from acts of mistreatment. They justify a declared activity of colocation for seniors. “This is not a fake Ehpad, explains Valérie Del Maschio, responsible for the service. The people who come are aware that they are renting a room and providing service. They are able to eat on their own, to wash themselves. They hire a nurse if they need to. It is the families who take care of the medical beds, the pharmacy, the care. I take care of the provision of services. “
A low-cost service?
Reception, accommodation, food, the service offer is invoiced 2,000 euros per month and per resident, with a tax credit of 500 euros for families. The more affordable solution than retirement homes and nursing homes is attracting more and more families with modest incomes. “Here, there is one nurse for 11 residents, justifies, Valérie Del Maschio, whereas in a retirement home it is often one for 60 people. In retirement homes, we pay 3,000 euros. Here it is 2,000 euros and families can get help and a tax credit of 500 euros. I am crying because the 11 who were placed with us are our family ”.
Testimonials favorable to the couple
We were able to reach the daughter of a resident who stayed here for two years. It testifies to the “well being of his mother. With my sister, we didn’t want to put her in an Ehpad where she would spend her days in a room, alone. Here she was good “. She also wonders about the reasons for the closure. “I picked up my mom on Thursday morning, after a call from Valérie. I was not warned either by the departmental council or by the prefecture. It’s up to us to choose where mom will go now”.
We also spoke at length on the phone to a nurse who took care of “five residents” in the shared apartment and a pharmacist “couple’s friend”. Both wonder about the orderly evacuation Thursday morning. In the village, the day after the intervention of the authorities, few people seem to know and no one seems to have an opinion on this affair. To date, no complaint has been filed by any of the families of the eleven residents. And oddly enough, the word “abuse” is never spoken, or even written.
– Fred chapuis
– Fred chapuis
– Fred chapuis
– Fred chapuis
– Fred chapuis