A study by UFC-Que Choisir reveals the inequalities of access to Ehpad according to the regions

Céline Géraud, edited by Solène Leroux 4:36 p.m., May 17, 2022

After the Orpéa scandal, residents and their families may have been tempted to approach public nursing homes, but it is often very difficult to find places there.

A study by UFC-Que Choisir revealed on Tuesday that there are huge disparities between departments.

These disparities are both geographical and economic.

To begin with, the number of places in Ehpad varies from single to quadruple depending on the departments.

For example, in Lozère, for 1,000 inhabitants over the age of 75, there are 169 places, but only 41 in Paris.

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A territorial divide, but also a financial one.

In France, the average monthly rent for a place in an Ehpad is 2,214 euros.

If you live in the Meuse, you will pay the cheapest: 1,749 euros.

On the other hand, in the Rhône, the Bouches-du-Rhône, the Alpes-Maritimes, we go to 2,600 euros and, unsurprisingly, we come close to 3,700 euros in Paris.

UFC-Que Choisir asks for a "dependency shield"

Price differences which are explained by the number of very high private structures in certain departments.

A private Ehpad holds on average 23% of the places available, but in eight departments, this percentage rises to more than 50% and even to almost 64% in the Bouches-du-Rhône.

To avoid these abuses and so that each senior can find a room at a reasonable price, the UFC-Que Choisir association is asking in priority for the creation of places in nursing homes in the public sector, a cap on prices in the private sector, and the setting establishment of a "dependency shield" financed by national solidarity.