Family visits are again authorized in the Ephad. Although physical contact remains prohibited, eye contact is essential for residents.
- Family visits are again authorized in nursing homes
- For seniors, the isolation of confinement can lead to a depressive state
- The visits will not allow physical contact but the Minister of Health has stressed the importance of eye contact
During the Prime Minister’s press conference on Sunday April 19, Olivier Véran announced the “visitation rights for families” in the Ephad the next day. No physical contact,”on the other hand there will be eye contact, and I imagine the relief that will be that of the many parents and carers who will be able to visit their loved ones againsaid the Minister of Health. We can spend a lot of things with the look with the people we love.”
The importance of eye contact
The resumption of family visits was decided after consultation with the “learned societies” and “representatives of the organizations of these establishments for the elderly”. Because even if45% of nursing homes have reported at least one positive Covid case in the territory”said the Minister of Health, the visits are essential for the morale of these elderly people, isolated and cut off from their loved ones for more than a month.
Why is eye contact so important for these seniors? “We know that the conditions of this confinement are more difficult to live with for our elders, that there is, with this vulnerable population, a risk of ‘slip syndrome’explains to 20 minutes Romain Gizolme, director of AD-PA. It results in a depressive disorder, a significant loss of autonomy and desire to live, hence the importance of re-establishing the link with the families. This is decisive for the health of the residents, and for their acceptance of the confinement, which will still last at least several weeks..”
Eye contact is enough to sense the presence of others. These visits make it possible to discuss, to interact socially, to feel the importance that one still has for others and the place that one occupies in the world.
“All day I’m locked in there”
“Family visits were eagerly awaited by the elderly and their relatives, especially since many of them are in psychological distress”specifies for his part Éric Fregona, deputy director of the Association of directors serving the elderly (ADPA), at the HuffPost.
Witness Jeanne Pault, resident of an establishment in Saint-Gemmes-sur-Loire (Maine-et-Loire) soon to be 97 years old, who recently explained to the cameras of France 2 how much loneliness weighed on her: “JI can’t even go to my neighbor’s house. My neighbor doesn’t have the virus, and neither do I. We could see each other from time to time. We can’t even discuss, all day I’m locked in there…”
This lady has not seen her husband and children for more than a month, forces herself to eat “because (her) children grumble. (…) They tell me ‘Mom, hold on until the end ‘”.
???? “I’m locked up all day… It’s not a life at 97… My children tell me ‘mum hold on until the end’.”
Resident in an Ehpad, Jeanne gives us this moving testimony.
(via @infofrance2) pic.twitter.com/7cqIKoXyu9
— franceinfo plus (@franceinfoplus) April 20, 2020
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