Charles Luylier // Photo credit: Martin Bertrand / Hans Lucas / Hans Lucas via AFP 8:17 p.m., March 1, 2024
The Minister of Labor and Health is in favor of establishing a right for nursing home residents to be accompanied by their pet and of including this possibility in the law.
In fact, establishments have the option of accepting or not their presence.
Europe 1 went to one of the rare nursing homes to have taken the plunge, in Toulouse.
In this Toulouse nursing home, there are 70 residents, to which must be added Kitty, a 15-year-old cat who shares a room with her mistress.
The Minister of Labor and Health is in favor of establishing a right for nursing home residents to be accompanied by their pet and of including this possibility in the law.
In this Toulouse establishment, Kitty's presence brings enormous benefit, as confirmed by Alice, one of the caregivers.
“Animals remain essential in the structure”
"She herself is the one who feeds the cat. It's as if she were in her own home. She feels useful, she's not sitting around doing nothing."
A cat who, most of the time, is in her owner's room, but who can also visit other residents.
Like Alain, who at 80 years old, fell in love with her.
>> READ ALSO -
Ehpad: what models are adopted by our European neighbors?
"I write a lot and so I tell my stories to this cat. If you want, it brings us a presence and kisses, caresses, guiliguilis. Because the staff, as nice as they are, don't have the right to hold us. I have four children and I haven't seen them for years, so animals remain essential in the structure."
However, it remains to be determined what type of animals.
The law must specify this to avoid abuses.