Melina Facchin 06:38, October 06, 2022
October 6th is the national day of caregivers, those people who take care of a sick loved one on a daily basis.
Between 8 and 11 million French people are concerned and to be able to breathe a little, they can count on associations which notably offer temporary accommodation to their disabled parent.
They are father, mother, brother, sister or spouse.
In France, there are between 8 and 11 million carers, who provide daily support to one of their loved ones with a loss of autonomy or with a disability.
A life dedicated to helping a parent is often exhausting.
So some associations come to the aid of… caregivers!
For example, by offering to take care of their sick loved one for a few hours or a few days, and thus offer them some respite.
“I take the opportunity to go to the cinema or to the restaurant with my husband”
A large and beautiful house and several small individual chalets in the middle of nature, at the foot of the Vosges: it is here, in Malmerspach (Haut-Rhin) that the association "Au fil de la vie" accompanies carers from all over the department.
Marie-Paule, 54, lives in the neighboring village.
She regularly drops Manon, her 25-year-old daughter, who has a mental disability, here.
“It gives me a little respite,” she explains.
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For the past two years, she has entrusted her daughter to the educators and carers of the establishment for four and a half days a month.
"During that time, I go to see the friends I can't see the rest of the time," she says.
"I allow myself to go to the cinema or to the restaurant with my husband. Even if it makes us very funny when we find ourselves alone at the table in the evening! There is a big lack", she admits.
Every time she brings Manon here, Marie-Paule feels guilty, "but I know she's fine there," she reassures herself.
"She calls me every night, she's smiling, she's made friends. It's also good for her social life! And she always says that 'Maison Émilie' (the name of the establishment, editor's note), it's his life".
A lack of places and "a year of waiting"
Like all caregivers, Marie-Paule is entitled to 90 days per year of temporary accommodation for her daughter.
But the number of places is sometimes insufficient.
"Here, we have 11 temporary reception places", explains Laura Garcia, responsible for support within the association "Au fil de la vie".
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"So, it's true that it's better to anticipate a year in advance to reserve slots," she continues.
"This does not satisfy us at all, because we are talking about respite, caregivers who are sometimes tired or even exhausted. But for the moment we are not able to respond to all the requests we receive", regrets Laura Garcia.
A listening platform to advise caregivers
Beyond the lack of places and means, Laura Garcia notes above all that few carers know of the existence of this type of accommodation structure.
"Many of them are not sufficiently informed about their rights," she says.
This is why his association decided to create a support platform, the PFR68, six months ago.
During round tables, discussion groups or via a telephone hotline, "we are there to advise, listen and answer questions from families", she explains.