A “great age” law, what for? The government, in the emergency of the health crisis, launched in 2020 an investment plan for nursing homes and another to increase the salaries of caregivers – a third is underway for those of home helpers. “Our great reform of autonomy is in full swing”, welcomed, on March 10, Brigitte Bourguignon, Minister Delegate in charge of autonomy, before the Social Affairs Committee of the National Assembly. On the other hand, the law “To respond to the new risk of addiction”, promised by Emmanuel Macron in June 2018, then in September 2020, remains pending.
Thursday, May 20, a government meeting in Matignon, led by Prime Minister Jean Castex and devoted to the subject, could have led to believe in an imminent announcement. “ It was not a conclusive arbitration meeting but a point of progress, Matignon indicated at the exit. The timetable and the content of a broader reform have not yet been decided. “ For an expert in the case, this session was a good omen: “Basically, the meeting went well. Matignon wants a review in Parliament in the fall. We should have some news in the next few weeks. “ According to our information, the arbitration is now continuing at the Elysee Palace. Mme Bourguignon is campaigning for a review of the text in September in the National Assembly. This supposes a presentation in the Council of Ministers before July. But the battle is not won.
The project has one ambition: to allow as many French people as possible to age at home. This implies tackling the inequalities of the Personalized Autonomy Allowance, the amount of which is currently freely set by the departments. The text provides for the creation of a floor price and a contribution of a few euros paid to beneficiaries to expand the range of interventions of home help and support services. The state would partially offset the cost of this reform for the departments.
Indispensability of the law
The reform also aims to promote “Ehpad-platforms” by blowing up the legal and fiscal barriers that deter establishments from offering home services to residents. The employees of these establishments could provide meals or care for the elderly inhabitants living nearby. Non-residents could go to nursing homes for certain treatments.
You have 65.6% of this article to read. The rest is for subscribers only.