Patricia proudly points to the knick-knacks in her room where a red wall clashes, contrasting with the whiteness of the corridors.
"I already had these things at home," slips the sixty-year-old timidly.
Patricia suffers from intellectual disabilities.
With eleven other disabled people over 55, she joined the Sainte-Emilie nursing home in Clamart (Hauts-de-Seine) last November.
Now, this discreet brunette cohabits with the 209 residents of the establishment, whose average age is around 85 years old.
Scheduled over five years, this experiment, described as a “bridge between age and disability”, was initiated by the Hauts-de-Seine departmental council, in collaboration with the regional health agency (ARS) and the foyers origin of the twelve residents.
“The Hauts-de-Seine is financing an educator position and the services of this new unit for a total budget of 175,200 euros.
This represents an additional 40 euros on the support per day and per person.
The user has nothing to pay, ”summarizes Sylvie Buchot, project manager in the department.
In total, 42 files were sent for only 12 places.
So much so that the departmental council launched a new call for applications for two retirement homes to enter the device.
"They are nice but make noise", laughs a retiree
This initiative makes it possible to remedy the aging of the population of shelters dedicated to the disabled. In Hauts-de-Seine, 62% of beneficiaries are over 50 years old. “It's complicated for the oldest to live with the young because they need calm. People with disabilities age faster, some must be medicalized. Here, they benefit from adapted nursing staff, explains Sylvie Buchot. And de facto, this frees up places for young people in the hostels. "
Jean, a resident of the retirement home, is amused by the arrival of these “young people”.
"They are nice but make noise," laughs the octogenarian.
Because this Friday, the twelve residents celebrate the birthday of Alain, a sixty-year-old suffering from a mental handicap.
“Sometimes, they already knew each other because they come from the same structures,” says Sylvie Buchot.
But some are delighted to meet new faces.
Patricia, who insists on being nicknamed “Patoune”, was able to meet “her Jean-Paul”, a deaf and mute sixty-year-old with a mischievous look.
“He's her lover.
They follow each other everywhere ”, whispers Lucile Bod, the educator.
Only 84 dedicated spaces in Ile-de-France
To welcome these new residents, some of the nursing home staff have received training in the foster homes.
“They are only volunteers.
Residents with disabilities need more support than the elderly, ”says Nathalie Loutzky, the director of the establishment.
Each day, the educator supervises their day from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
On the program this afternoon: decoration of frames.
Unlike the elderly, every activity here has benefits for their health.
"The gestures they make to stick decorations will help them, for example, to better hold their fork", details Gizela, medico-social worker.
In total, Ile-de-France has seven units for aging disabled people in nursing homes, the equivalent of 84 places.
If Jean-Louis Garcia, president of the Association for disabled adults and young people (Apajh), welcomes the initiative, he has reservations.
“It's good that there is a reflection on this subject because there is a real need.
However, this type of project is not very inclusive.
We need structures where young people, disabled people, retirees, mix.
With such funding, it would be possible!
"
Still, for the director of the nursing home, this gateway offers a real advantage.
“When the parents are old, they can come to the retirement home with their children.
What was not possible in the home, points out Nathalie Loutzky.
And that is important for them!
"
