Orpea scandal: is the situation the same in Germany?
The group targeted by the “Les Fossoyeurs” investigation is a giant in the sector in Europe.
It occupies a strong position in the German EHPAD market.
AFP - ALAIN JOCARD
Text by: Pascal Thibaut Follow
3 mins
The publication of the book-investigation "Les Fossoyeurs" which denounces the abuse in the nursing homes of the Orpea group in France continues to spark debate.
Legal and political consequences are considered.
The company is a giant in the sector, number one in Europe with more than 100,000 beds and more than a thousand establishments.
Germany, the largest European country, is a significant market for Orpea.
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From our correspondent in Germany,
Orpea is a heavyweight in Germany with nearly 200 nursing homes and 17,000 beds.
The general public doesn't really know the name of this group, which gained a foothold in Germany by taking over existing homes that kept their original name.
In total, a dozen different brands across the country are part of the Orpea empire.
The French group Korian is also very present in Germany.
Orpea's activities in Germany have not given rise to criticisms similar to those issued in France, because
no investigation as long and detailed as that carried out for the book
Les Fossoyeurs
has been carried out there.
But various examples of deficient care for residents have been observed, as an expert on German radio pointed out a few days ago.
“
Catastrophic
” conditions
An Orpea nursing home in North Rhine-Westphalia made headlines last fall.
A nurse had called the police because he was overwhelmed.
On a local radio, a family member of a residence had mentioned "
catastrophic
" conditions.
An investigation has been opened.
In Bremen, the public television investigation had highlighted serious deficits in an establishment of the group.
►Also read:
Belgium: two arrests and increased surveillance in Orpea residences
These different local cases make it difficult to draw lessons for
all of Orpea's nursing homes
.
What seems proven according to two trade unionists from the Ver.di organization and a journalist who, with others, conducted an investigation into nursing homes in Europe, is Orpea's brutal strategy against staff representatives and works councils.
A policy that observers do not find among Orpea's competitors like Korian.
Only 10% of nursing homes in Germany have a works council.
Few employees are unionized.
Lack of staff
But more broadly,
the lack of staff
in German nursing homes is a global problem.
An expert estimates that more than 100,000 additional jobs would be needed for better care of residents.
For specialists, good nursing homes mean that 70% of revenue is used for personnel expenses.
At Orpea as in other private companies, this rate is 50 to 55%.
Orpea, in Germany, claims to respect the criteria provided for by law on the ratio between the number of residents and staff.
A new law which will soon come into force should significantly improve the remuneration of caregivers and make this profession more attractive.
But this improvement could have cost implications for residents.
The State has already reacted but a more significant reform of long-term care insurance will undoubtedly be necessary.
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