In view of the current scandal which is shaking nursing homes in the private sector accused of elder abuse, the Lucienne Montot-Ponsolle establishment in Tarnos, in the south-west of the department, could be set up as a model.

Located not far from the ocean, the Ehpad, which dates from the 90s, has been gradually renovated.

Games have recently been installed under the pergola to accommodate toddlers from the neighboring crèche, near the new bowling green.

And in the pastel-colored rooms, rails attached to the ceiling have recently made it easier for residents to manipulate them.

A caregiver from the Lucienne Montot-Ponsollec nursing home helps residents exercise on March 24, 2022 in Tarnos, in the Landes GAIZKA IROZ AFP

"Here, we are treated with dignity. Everything is clean, the places like the old ones!", smiles Marie Sanchez, 96, her hair cut short and a flowered scarf on her shoulders.

While participating in the activity of folding the bibs of the kindergarten classes, this former cleaning lady praises "the helpful staff" and the "family atmosphere".

"Ehpads where you pay a lot of money are certainly not better than here," said the old lady while stroking the hand of a facilitator.

An employee of the Lucienne Montot-Ponsolle nursing home cleans the corridors of the establishment, on March 24, 2022 in Tarnos, in the Landes GAIZKA IROZ AFP

To pay the amount of accommodation up to 2,087 euros, right in the national average, she benefits like all residents from the personalized autonomy allowance paid by the Department.

Because in the sixty nursing homes in the Landes – all public or non-profit associations, with one exception – all places are entitled to social assistance.

A political choice inherited from the mandate of former socialist president Henri Emmanuelli, who died in 2017.

Residents of the Lucienne Montot-Ponsolle nursing home in the dining room, March 24, 2022 in Tarnos, in the Landes GAIZKA IROZ AFP

This fierce defender of public service refused for three decades to grant approvals to private organizations.

"We consider that all means must be invested locally and not remunerate the dividends of the shareholders of these large groups", explains the PS president of the Department Xavier Fortinon, who succeeded him.

"Juggling Substitutions"

And to maintain moderate prices - "20 to 30% cheaper than the national average" with a median rent around 1,800 euros -, the departmental council contributes to the renovation of establishments, to prevent them from becoming too indebted. heavily.

A proactive policy which implies that the territory devotes "10% of its budget" to serving seniors, "i.e. around 55 million euros per year", according to the elected official, a sum financed in particular by the significant transfer rights collected during real estate transactions.

A caregiver and residents in the gardens of the Lucienne Montot-Ponsolle nursing home, March 24, 2022 in Tarnos, in the Landes GAIZKA IROZ AFP

Here there is no rationing in force, we are assured.

"These are not nursing homes at a discount!", insists Mathieu Henry, president of the Association of Directors of Ehpad des Landes.

"It's the management that differs. This forces us to be careful to the penny. We are not going to install state-of-the-art balneotherapy systems," he adds.

Over the past two years, the staff ratio has been revised upwards with a full-time equivalent ratio per resident higher than the national average, of 0.8 against 0.6.

A caregiver helps a residence to walk in the gardens of the Lucienne Montot-Ponsolle nursing home, March 24, 2022 in Tarnos, in the Landes GAIZKA IROZ AFP

But the number of caregiver positions, dependent on the Regional Health Agency, remains understaffed.

“We are still going through very difficult times”, assures the director of the Tarnos nursing home, Jérôme Barriez, “if we do not recruit very quickly, we are going straight into the wall”.

In his establishment, which has a hundred agents for 71 residents, the absenteeism rate for all trades combined (linked in particular to work accidents and skeletal-muscular disorders) is 15%.

"It's a perpetual race to replace absent staff. The schedule eats our brains", abounds this very invested director, who must in particular juggle the replacements of caregivers, nurses and must soon recruit a coordinating doctor and an occupational therapist.

Impossible according to him to recruit.

"We don't receive any CVs and we have to resort to temporary work, which is very expensive for us. If we continue like this, we are going to ruin," he warns.

Caregivers prepare the distribution of drugs to residents of the Lucienne Montot-Ponsolle nursing home, March 24, 2022 in Tarnos, in the Landes GAIZKA IROZ AFP

The next elections will be decisive.

"Only an ambitious and innovative future old age law will allow us to move towards worthy and well-treated nursing homes", according to him.

© 2022 AFP