Sitting in the Altkirch Wheat Market on chairs forming a circle, Daniel, Jeannine, Raymond and other local seniors carry out a series of exercises. Adding numbers, coordinating gestures, thinking about vocabulary… For an hour and a half, every Thursday, they “work” in a group with Jennifer Schudy, representative of the Ateliers de Gaspar. “We start slowly. If things go well, I will go a little faster,” she announces.
From 58 to 89 years old
Aged 58 to 89, today’s participants smile at this all-round stimulation, laughing at their clumsiness, hesitations and confusions. Some came spontaneously, others were referred by doctors or structures such as Esa (specialized Alzheimer’s team, a Sundgau support system). The diagnosis of a cognitive failure has not been established for everyone, but everyone has in common that they experience certain difficulties in daily life.
It is in an attempt to maintain their autonomy that they joined this weekly meeting, supported by the association Les Lys d’argent
in partnership with the City of Altkirch as part of its local health contract. “There is no miracle, we are not going to give them back their memory, but we are going to ensure that the loss stabilizes. The goal is for people to stay at home as long as possible,” explains Jennifer Schudy.
Jennifer Schudy: “Being in a group brings them a lot”
“I could no longer do sports due to health problems. Here, it’s nice, there’s a little atmosphere,” appreciates a new recruit. “The beneficial effects are slow, but there are things that remain. I always drive my car, I look for bread…”, testifies another member. “The old-young team” as they happily call themselves also thrives on this bond. “Being in a group brings them a lot. Some have very little social life,” analyzes the professional.
-Improving quality of life, enhancing abilities, contributing to moral well-being… These adapted activities operate in cycles: memory prevention, falls, malnutrition, etc.
Changes are on the way: since January 21, workshops now take place on Tuesdays, from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., at the Crac d’Altkirch (rue du Château). Open to anyone aged 60 and over, they can accommodate a maximum of fifteen participants. A few places are still available. A trial session is offered to assess whether the offer suits the person’s profile.
“Left, right, in front, behind…”, participants activate their feet around the colored blocks according to Jennifer Schudy’s instructions. Photo Caroline Anfossi
“I wish there were more devices like this”A few meters from the group of seniors supervised by Jennifer Schudy, a few people chat while waiting. They are the participants’ guides. One of them, a resident of Illtall, wanted to share his feelings about the situation he is experiencing since his wife’s gradual loss of autonomy: “I would like there to be more measures like that of the Ateliers de Gaspar. We, those around us, don’t know how to take this, how to manage. It kind of hits you overnight. I find that there should be more communication on this subject and things in the territory. »
Health
