Implicated for its practices, the retirement home group Orpea denies
The Orpea group is the world leader in establishments for the elderly.
© AFP/Loïc Venance
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On the eve of the release of a book-investigation on the dark side of nursing homes managed by the company Orpea, the French government plans to launch an investigation against the group.
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“
We have nothing to hide
,” assures Jean-Christophe Romersi.
Asked about BFMTV the day after the
publication of extracts from a book-investigation
on practices in his retirement homes, the director general of Orpea France denounced accusations "
false, outrageous and prejudicial
".
"
We do not ration, it does not correspond to our directives, it does not correspond to our values (...) We will never sacrifice the quality of support, the quality of care to any notion of profitability whatsoever
" , he said.
We are governed by regulations, laws, controlled by competent authorities.
We have always worked with complete transparency.
Jean-Christophe Romersi, CEO of Orpea France
BFM
In
Les Fossoyeurs
– to be published this Wednesday by Fayard, and of which
Le Monde
published the “good sheets” on Monday – the independent journalist Victor Castanet dissects the system of private groups for which old age has become a business.
This 388-page book, the result of three years of investigation and 200 interviews, focuses in particular on the world number one establishment for the elderly: Orpea, which has more than a thousand nursing homes and clinics around the world.
He describes a system where hygiene care, medical care, and even residents' meals are "
rationed
" to improve the profitability of the group of private nursing homes. And this while stays are charged at a high price – nearly 6,500 euros per month for an “
entry level
” room at the “Les Bords de Seine” residence in Neuilly, points out the author.
The group, which did not wish to speak when writing the survey, will however have to answer the many questions raised by the book.
Asked about the subject during the current affairs session at the National Assembly, the French Minister of Health Olivier Véran announced on Tuesday the seizure of Orpea following these serious allegations and which could lead to an investigation. .
Public authorities owe the truth "
to families, caregivers and residents
", he said.
In the meantime, these revelations are already having repercussions on the stock market.
The action of the retirement home group plunged 20.35% to 55.18 euros, after a 24-hour suspension of its listing.
Other groups in the same sector were affected, including Korian, which lost 4.80% to 22.62 euros, after falling nearly 15% on Monday.
Orpea, leader in a buoyant sector
Over the past 10 years, Orpea has become a world leader, offering a comprehensive range of services for the elderly: nursing homes, private clinics and home help services.
The group manages hundreds of establishments in 22 countries in Europe and Latin America.
Its leaders raised its growth target to more than 9% for 2021 last November and is now counting on a turnover of 4.27 billion euros.
Orpea operates in a buoyant sector due to the growing number of elderly people, particularly in Western countries.
In France alone, the public authorities estimate that 108,000 new places in residential establishments for the elderly will be needed by 2030.
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