French Government Reports Improvement in Elderly Care Facilities Post-Orpea Scandal
A comprehensive inspection plan nearly concludes, indicating a majority of EHPADs meet safety standards while addressing past issues.
The French government has announced positive findings regarding the safety of EHPADs (établissements d'hébergement pour personnes âgées dépendantes) three years after the Orpea scandal, which raised significant concerns about financial malpractice and mistreatment within elderly care facilities.
In a recent update, Minister of Autonomy and Disability Charlotte Parmentier-Lecocq reported that nearly 96% of France's 7,500 EHPADs have been inspected as part of a broad control plan initiated in 2022.
Nearly 90% of these inspections did not result in any formal 'injunctions,' which are corrective measures tied to severe risks, according to the Minister.
However, approximately 11% of facilities were classified as having degraded conditions.
In total, the government recorded 55 administrative sanctions against EHPADs.
These included 11 instances of total or partial closure due to significant operational failures that endangered residents, nine cases of temporary suspension related to insufficient qualified staff, and 35 establishments placed under provisional administration.
Additionally, 40 reports were forwarded to the public prosecutor’s office for further investigation.
Of the conducted inspections, one-third were performed on-site, while the remaining two-thirds relied on documentation and records.
Minister Parmentier-Lecocq emphasized ongoing vigilance, stating that a new information system designed to alert authorities about potential risks or instances of mistreatment will be operational by January 2026. She reassured the public that despite past problems in some facilities, the majority of EHPADs provide adequate care for the elderly, supported by dedicated professionals.
The Minister also highlighted the need for families to feel empowered to ask questions and raise concerns regarding their loved ones' care within EHPADs.
Restoring trust in these facilities is deemed crucial, especially in light of the anticipated exponential growth in demand due to an aging population.
To address staffing shortages, the government has budgeted for the hiring of 6,500 full-time equivalent positions in 2025, reaffirming its commitment to increase staffing by 50,000 by 2030. Additionally, the emergency fund allocated to struggling EHPADs has been significantly raised from 100 million to 300 million euros, with ongoing evaluations of the criteria for distributing these funds.
The government is also exploring new funding avenues for over 600,000 residents currently housed in EHPADs, which have faced considerable challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Orpea scandal, and rising inflation.
Looking ahead, the government plans to extend its scrutiny to facilities for individuals with disabilities, particularly focusing on those housing children and offering residential support.
The aim is to inspect 500 of these establishments by the end of the year, applying the same rigorous approach used in the EHPAD inspections.
In a recent update, Minister of Autonomy and Disability Charlotte Parmentier-Lecocq reported that nearly 96% of France's 7,500 EHPADs have been inspected as part of a broad control plan initiated in 2022.
Nearly 90% of these inspections did not result in any formal 'injunctions,' which are corrective measures tied to severe risks, according to the Minister.
However, approximately 11% of facilities were classified as having degraded conditions.
In total, the government recorded 55 administrative sanctions against EHPADs.
These included 11 instances of total or partial closure due to significant operational failures that endangered residents, nine cases of temporary suspension related to insufficient qualified staff, and 35 establishments placed under provisional administration.
Additionally, 40 reports were forwarded to the public prosecutor’s office for further investigation.
Of the conducted inspections, one-third were performed on-site, while the remaining two-thirds relied on documentation and records.
Minister Parmentier-Lecocq emphasized ongoing vigilance, stating that a new information system designed to alert authorities about potential risks or instances of mistreatment will be operational by January 2026. She reassured the public that despite past problems in some facilities, the majority of EHPADs provide adequate care for the elderly, supported by dedicated professionals.
The Minister also highlighted the need for families to feel empowered to ask questions and raise concerns regarding their loved ones' care within EHPADs.
Restoring trust in these facilities is deemed crucial, especially in light of the anticipated exponential growth in demand due to an aging population.
To address staffing shortages, the government has budgeted for the hiring of 6,500 full-time equivalent positions in 2025, reaffirming its commitment to increase staffing by 50,000 by 2030. Additionally, the emergency fund allocated to struggling EHPADs has been significantly raised from 100 million to 300 million euros, with ongoing evaluations of the criteria for distributing these funds.
The government is also exploring new funding avenues for over 600,000 residents currently housed in EHPADs, which have faced considerable challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Orpea scandal, and rising inflation.
Looking ahead, the government plans to extend its scrutiny to facilities for individuals with disabilities, particularly focusing on those housing children and offering residential support.
The aim is to inspect 500 of these establishments by the end of the year, applying the same rigorous approach used in the EHPAD inspections.
