The 600,000 residents of retirement homes whose life is shaken by the constraints of Covid, can they hope to regain some freedom with vaccination? This is what the elderly people gathered in Citoyennage are asking for, supported by the association of directors serving the elderly AD-PA.
“Rediscover the intimacy of meetings”
To date, 68.8% of residents in nursing homes or long-term care units have received at least one dose of vaccine. Most of the second injections started at the start of the week.
Weakened, the residents of nursing home express the wish for several reductions. They would like to be able to reunite with their families in their own accommodation, and no longer in common rooms. In order to “Rediscover the intimacy of meetings”, explains Philippe Wender, 84, president of Citoyennage and himself a resident of the Green City, in Sucy-en-Brie, in Val-de-Marne.
“Friends on the other floors”
The residents also want a family reunion outside, in particular to be able to see their grandchildren again. In institutions, the elderly would also like activities no longer to be organized by floor. “We have friends on the other floors that we enjoyed seeing and that we no longer see. “
Finally, at the table, they would like no longer to be two meters apart from each other. “To talk to our deaf neighbors, it’s not terrible”, smiles Philippe Wender.
“A vital necessity”
These reductions would not necessarily imply giving up the wearing of the mask, warns Pascal Champvert, president of the AD-PA. But they are essential for the mental health of residents: “We have a colossal risk of depression, anxiety disorders, behavioral disorders, and the risk of falls in the elderly who, not going out, do not get enough physical exercise”.
“It is a vital necessity, abounds Philippe Wender. We lost a year of life. However, for us, the years count quadruple. We have few left… ”.
What, however, about the 20% of residents who refuse vaccination? “Do we need the same rights for all? Do we need rights only for vaccinated people? Or depending on the situation? “
Convinced of not being able to find an answer to these questions alone “Ethical”, AD-PA alerted the Minister of Health and would like an opinion from the National Consultative Ethics Council on the subject.
The question also concerns the vaccination of professionals working in these establishments. In mid-January, only 20% intended to be vaccinated, according to an Odoxa poll.
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