It is in a complicated context for the finances of local authorities that the elected representatives of the Departmental Council of Landes met on Friday November 8, 2024 for the second decision amending the 2024 budget. Among the numerous decisions taken, one stands out for its degree of importance: the Department voted to add 2 million euros to the already adopted support plan of 6.4 million euros for the 62 Landes Ephads, all public. Or €8.4 million in total, compared to €7.55 already in 2023.
If the Department has decided to put its hand in its pocket, it is because these establishments are generally in great difficulty, and in the Landes, “we are not spared”, underlined Paul Carrère, vice-president of the Council departmental. Out of 62 establishments, “around ten are in great difficulty, around thirty tend to be in difficulty and around twenty are in a pattern that is still tolerable”, specified Paul Carrère.
Expenses which increased by 33%
This additional aid of 2 million euros is therefore added to the 6.4 million euros distributed as follows: 2 million under the Aging Well plan; 3 million for the support fund; €1.35 million for the reassessment of the GIR point, i.e. the level of loss of autonomy of a person. This GIR point is important since it makes it possible to determine the eligibility of a resident for the Personalized Autonomy Allowance (APA) paid by the Department.
After Paul Carrère, Dominique Coutière, vice-president of the Departmental Council and also president of the Cœur Haute Lande Community of Communes, was keen to recall some figures on the subject. These expand the debate, allow us to understand a little more about the difficulties facing the Landes nursing homes and also present the challenges to come.
“Between 2019 and 2023, the costs of all Landes nursing homes increased by 33%. The daily price in Landes increased by 12%. This cannot continue like this. With the plan being prepared at the state level, we will not be able to continue to allocate such amounts indefinitely. They will necessarily have to be reflected in the daily price. »
Dominique Coutière relies on another indicator: the GMP, which makes it possible to classify nursing homes according to the average level of dependency of all of its residents. A high GMP thus reflects an increased need for specific assistance. In Landes, over the same period from 2019 to 2023, “the GMP increased from 709 to 730.”
Differentiated prices?
In view of the situation, it is urgent to find funds to continue to finance nursing homes and thus participate in actions in favor of the elderly. Among the ideas put forward during this session, that of differentiated rates based on residents' income.
On this subject, Jean-Marc Lespade, departmental councilor and former mayor of Tarnos, was keen to express his agreement: “We are in an attractive department. We have a number of retired couples arriving. We do not necessarily find it inappropriate that some people pay a little more depending on financial capabilities. »
On Tuesday, November 19, departmental advisors and establishment directors met to, once again, address this burning problem.
(1) Accommodation establishments for dependent elderly people.
The other files
Several other files were processed during this second decision amending the 2024 budget.
Child protection. The Landes department will have devoted this year, “nearly 63 million euros to the protection of young Landes people and the support of families in difficulty,” said Agathe Bourretère, departmental advisor. “Behind the amounts we vote, we do not always identify the realities. To take care of a child, you need two full-time equivalent people and we are welcoming more and more placed children,” underlined Xavier Fortinon, president of the Departmental Council.
Road construction sites. This section was presented by elected official Olivier Martinez. The latter notably recalled the operations which were finalized for the 2024 budget year. Among them: the Vieux-Pont de Dax financed to the tune of more than €1.7 million, the demolition and reconstruction of the Sorde bridge -the Abbey for an amount of just over €6.4 million.
2024 grants to SDIS. The Department voted an envelope of 302,886 euros for investments in the Departmental Fire and Rescue Service. For the moment, 21 municipalities have also contributed a total of 147,191 euros.
