the essential
The intercommunal hospital center, located in Moissac (Tarn-et-Garonne), supports people suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. It helps maintain patients’ abilities and offers a beneficial respite
Friday October 11, 2024, it was the family meal at the day reception of the Castelsarrasin-Moissac intercommunal hospital center and joy could be seen on everyone’s faces. René, 94, and his friend Simone, 87, both have the cognitive disorders of Alzheimer’s disease. But today nothing seems there. They sit at the same table and joke, surrounded by Simone’s family. Guy lives alone, he recognizes that solitude is difficult and sad. But for several months, he has been coming on Tuesdays and Thursdays and finds Simone with her humor and good humor. Simone is a regular at the structure, she has been coming there for two years. She jokes about her age. Smiling, she sings with the musicians who have come especially for this festive day, happily turns three waltz steps, before attacking her plate with appetite.
At each table, a moving life story is told. Jacqueline came with her husband and her son, she seems to have forgotten the world and smiles at everyone. Lucette, a beautiful lady with blue eyes, elegant down to the tips of her red-varnished nails, comes two days a week. “She is 80 years old and she is happy here. The team is welcoming and competent,” emphasizes Guy, her husband. Who always looks at her with love and breathes: “It’s a very sad illness.”
Surrounded by caregivers
“We are a small structure, but our function is important for those welcomed and for the caregivers who are often physically and morally exhausted. It is up to us to relieve them of guilt. We pick up our guests in the morning and bring them home in the evening,” insists Sandra Oudard, health executive responsible for day care. Indeed, it is not a question of abandoning loved ones, quite the contrary, here, patients are surrounded by caregivers who have additional ASG certification (geriatric care assistant). “This training allows us to acquire specific knowledge of Alzheimer’s disease for which medications are only a complement. The important thing is support with stimulation of cognitive faculties,” emphasizes Sandra, ASG caregiver.
This small community also constitutes a first phase before entering an EHPAD. “Certain activities take place at Grains Dorés, our guests get to know the place and then integrate more easily among the residents” explains Françoise, facilitator at the nursing home, who participated in the organization of this family day at day reception. She also takes the opportunity to discuss with those around the residents, in particular about the improvements to be made.
