Since the publication of Victor Castanet’s book The Gravediggerswhich denounces mistreatment in certain nursing homes of the Orpea group, reports of mistreatment of elderly people “increased considerably” with the Federation 3977, the national help line dedicated to elderly people and adults with disabilities who are victims of abuse. According to its president, Pierre Czernichow, guest on Saturday February 5 from franceinfo, “the word is free” on the subject and calls “have more than doubled”.
These calls testify to situations of mistreatment “but also questions, questions, requests for information”explains the president of 3977. They come mainly from “families whose relatives are housed in medico-social establishments”, not only establishments of the Orpea group. Some calls also concern public establishments or private associations. “It’s a much more general phenomenon than the Orpea phenomenon alone”finds Pierre Czernichow.
The situations of mistreatment denounced are “extremely disparate” according to him. “They have different shapes, affect different culprits and have different mechanisms.” The health crisis has “unquestionably” favored situations of mistreatment of elderly characters, regrets Pierre Czernichow, “in particular confinement, with the abolition of visits or the restriction of the movements of residents, the reduction of animation activities, shorter meals and even sometimes less easily accessible care”.
But the Ehpad are not the only ones concerned by the reports, specifies Pierre Czernichow. “You should know that the platform receives about three times more calls for situations of abuse at home.” According to him, the overall response to these situations must take into account “the places of occurrence of these abuses” as well as “the role of professionals which is extremely important in identifying, spotting and trying to prevent the degradation that leads to situations of abuse”.
Every call received at the Federation 3977 “is sent to one of our local associations”says Pierre Czernichow. “These centers look into the situation in depth. There is no question of going directly from a phone call lasting a few minutes to a response in the field without having ensured the veracity of the situation and, above all, without having sought a solution. .”
If you need help, if you are worried or if you are confronted with the mistreatment of a member of your entourage, you can reach 3977 from Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays from 9 hours to 1 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.