Victor Pourcher, edited by Ugo Pascolo 06:19, February 09, 2022

In the wake of revelations of abuse in nursing homes, in particular via the book "Les Fossoyeurs", the caregivers of these establishments have decided to come out of silence to denounce their working conditions.

Between hellish speeds and savings, patients are now called customers. 

“We become abusive at the institutional level, that is to say that we follow hellish cadences.”

Nursing assistant in Ehpad for 25 years, Stéphanie does not mince her words when it comes to addressing her working conditions.

Because after the revelations about abuse in nursing homes, via the book

Les fossoyeurs

, and the numerous complaints against the retirement home giant Orpea, she is one of those caregivers who have decided to make their voices heard to denounce the working conditions. .

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A carer who "becomes abusive"

Due to budgetary restrictions, Stephanie sometimes takes care of 14 patients alone.

Often there are only two nurses for 80 residents.

"We become robots, usually we have between 10 and 15 minutes to wash."

Joëlle has also been working in an nursing home for 6 years and her observation is the same: "The carer, despite himself, becomes abusive. How can we give food to these residents who need help? How can we give a shower to 16 residents while there is only one carer? It's not possible!", She protests at the microphone of Europe 1.

This carer close to retirement is revolted against the way in which residents are considered by certain managements: "Managements call them 'customers', no longer 'patients'!"

Joëlle continues: "When we sell you a room in an Ehpad, we sell you Club Med… But it's not Club Med! Food rationing in nursing homes for large groups, we experience it on a daily basis. Same for rations on diapers. How often does it happen that on weekends we don't even have a towel or a washcloth for the residents' toilets? And all this to save money!" 

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Consequences on care

A lack of means and time, the consequences of which are visible and force caregivers to prioritize certain acts.

"The treatments are not well done, otherwise you have to make a choice: today, I don't shampoo or I don't do my nails, I wash at the sink because I don't have time... These are not the values ​​of our profession at all!”, recalls Stéphanie, the caregiver with 25 years of experience in nursing homes.

But these rates and savings also have consequences on the morale of caregivers who try to do everything to maintain the quality of care.

"We feel guilty, we talk about it among colleagues and we do our best. We have no room for maneuver so automatically, we suffer."