The Entraide residence in Roy d’Espagne is now a thing of the past. Its small individual studios, its activity room and its refectory were emptied of their furniture by movers last week, while the residents, 100% independent elderly people, were asked to move before Friday, June 28. Among them, some residents have chosen to stay until the deadline. Alain, JD, Patrick, Fonzy and Mr. Cornet, residents who have become “resistant“, wanted to live until the last minute the story of friendship between the residents of the retirement home and the inhabitants of Roy d’Espagne, which has lasted for 56 years.
“They accompanied me to the exit, surrounded by all my boxes. I never would have imagined this ending“, confides Patrick, a resident for more than two years.”I found all my stuff piled up, on the floor and in the corners. My mattress and box spring were left against the wall“, says Alain, who opted for a caretaker’s lodge at Roy d’Espagne rather than joining part of his family in La Ciotat.
Five place settings in a refectory
On the shopping square where everyone knows each other, there is no getting around the fact that the closure of the residence, which is to be demolished to be replaced by a hundred homes, will leave its mark. Christiane and Marie-Christine, who have lived in Roy d’Espagne for 40 years, say to themselves “absolutely against“the closure of the retirement home, while admitting”the feeling of helplessness“who runs through them.”It’s like kicking our parents out of our house.x”, whispers Maggie, the butcher’s wife, behind her counter.
