After the National Assembly, the Senate approved on Wednesday the creation of a professional card for professionals in home help services, one of the main measures of a proposed law on “aging well”. Intended to facilitate recognition of the work of home helpers, this card will be awarded to all home workers presenting “professional certification” or who can demonstrate “two years of experience in intervention activities in the homes of elderly and disabled people.” “, according to the measure adopted by the Senate.
Recognition for certain professions
Like the deputies during the examination of this text at the end of 2023, the senators opted for a lasting system, while the initial bill, which came from the presidential camp, only provided for an experiment. “It’s a small proposal, but it tends towards this recognition of these professions which are extremely arduous and difficult,” pointed out socialist senator Corinne Féret. “The issue is essentially symbolic,” continued centrist rapporteur Jocelyne Guidez.
The new Minister of Solidarity, Catherine Vautrin, expressed doubts about the Senate’s wording, which she considered “broad”, fearing that “housekeeping professionals or coaches, athletes or others”, could be integrated by mistake to the device.
The Senate reconsiders certain measures
The senators also adopted an article providing for the payment of annual financial assistance to departments, in order to support the transport costs of home help professionals. They wanted to expand it by allowing this fund to finance the obtaining of driving licenses for these professionals. Former minister Aurore Bergé had promised 100 million euros for this allocation, confirmed on Wednesday by her successor.
The Senate also returned to numerous measures introduced in the Assembly in this broad text on autonomy. Thus, he deleted a provision which included in the objectives of the “residence contract” in nursing homes the fact of ensuring the resident’s right to “an emotional and sexual life”. He opposed a government measure aimed at “forcing” private nursing homes to devote a fraction of their profits to improving the “well-being” of their residents.
The senators also debated the right of residents to accommodate their pets in nursing homes. While the Assembly had proposed an enforceable right, the Senate preferred to leave it to establishments to decide on a case-by-case basis. A solemn vote on this entire bill is planned for Tuesday in the upper house