While nursing homes are facing the second wave of the Covid-19 epidemic head-on, the departments of Isère and Haute-Savoie have each launched calls for volunteers to come and reinforce staff who are exhausted or on leave.
To read also: "We must not be afraid": three fundamental professions in need of arms in nursing homes
In Isère, 906 staff were absent on Friday in the 101 accommodation establishments for dependent elderly people (Ehpad) and 63 in independent residences.
The nursing homes are the most affected, "
this represents 20% of their staff, in structures already under strain,
" said President Jean-Pierre Barbier at a press conference.
"
The situation is very alarming
", underlined Jean-Pierre Barbier (LR).
Of the more than 13,200 places in nursing homes and independent residences (usually 97% occupied), 374 people have died of Covid this fall alone, including 313 in the past three weeks.
The Isère is launching a call for volunteers - “very
volunteers, not volunteers
” - and if “
around 500 volunteers came forward (on the ad hoc platform) it would be a great breath of fresh air,
” Barbier insisted.
In nursing homes, these volunteers will be paid "
according to the salary scale
" of the establishments.
"
Anyone can come and short training courses will be given to acquire know-how and interpersonal skills with the elderly
".
During the first confinement, 400 agents from the department had lent a hand.
This time around, most of them working, 110 volunteered for half or a day a week, even evenings or weekends.
In addition, a recruitment plan for 150 positions was launched in early October.
“
Volunteering can be a first experience before recruitment,
” argued Barbier.
Non-specialized missions
Haute-Savoie launched a similar appeal last week to “
temporarily strengthen
” the workforce in its 66 nursing homes (5,285 places in total and around 4,200 staff).
This call was made to available people: unemployed young people, RSA beneficiaries, part-time workers, integration projects.
A system of incentive grants has been devised.
"
Those under 25 will benefit from a monthly aid of 400EUR prorated to the duration of the contract: if the contract is for less than 15 days, the amount is 200EUR
", the department told AFP.
For beneficiaries of the RSA, "
the Department's aid amounts to 200EUR monthly for voluntary beneficiaries, it is cumulative with the RSA and the salary received
", it was also specified.
The volunteers, who must make themselves known to the Pôle Emploi responsible for directing applications, will work on certain non-specialized missions: maintenance, logistics, laundry, room staff, kitchen assistance ...