Any advice on dementia care in France

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My DPs live in France and DF has fairly advanced vascular dementia. DM is caring for him at home but its getting close to unmanageable and she's looking at moving them both into a supported apartment. I'm concerned that this will be both too limiting for her and insufficiently supportive for him - but don't know what the care options are in France. She is devoted and will see researching options for separate living as a betrayal, so I think I need to find out what they are and discuss all of them with her. Trouble is, I'm in the UK and struggling to access info. Can any France-based MNers advise? They're in Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes if that makes a difference.

I approve this one is a little specific! If anyone has any success stories or tips to share, or useful sources of information about elderly care in France, I'd be very grateful!

*appreciate, not approve...

First thing is to contact their GP in France. The practise will have all the information and advice necessary for their situation. Best of luck.

Thank you Outsomnia. Good idea.

I don't have specific knowledge of this (though am an HCP) but have you tried going to Alzheimers UK and posting on their forums? There seem to be a couple of threads on there about similar situations in France, and I've no doubt you could get more responses there.

There are places called CLIC where you can obtain information about the different options for old people who can no longer live independently at home.

Also the MAIA of the department where your parents live will have a list of all the associations (local charities/not for profits) in the department so if there are any that support people in this situation, they'll know.

www.francealzheimer.org/

But yes, outsomnia is right, the GP should be the first point of call.

If they are in the system and have a good mutuelle they will be OK, they should talk to the assistant(e) social(e) at the mairie about arranging aide à domicile etc. Then possibly about résidence séniors, your father doesn't need an EHPAD yet. You can try taking to the GP but it is possible the GP will not talk to you seeing your parents are adults. And do you speak French fluently enough?

I live in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region (Isère) and have a family member currently in an EHPAD. GP first then social worker will point you in the right direction with options, help with forms, etc. I know your DM doesn't want to betray her DH but I would advise looking into a retirement home (with an EHPAD wing - even if you don't feel EHPAD is needed yet, it will make a transfer easier later). You need to balance whether nurses/carers in the house/sheltered house will be enough with your DM's imput. IME, I would advise against it. It is mentally and physically exhausting, my SIL and her DH could no longer cope, and there were 2 of them both reasonably young and healthy. Good luck.