On Thursday, April 9, 2026, at the Palais des Rois sardes in Nice, Charles Ange Ginésy presented the Knight insignia in the National Order of Merit to Paul Bensadoun. The ceremony was held in the presence of Éric Ciotti, as well as many elected officials and figures from the region.
A nurse and then a physiotherapist by training, Paul Bensadoun worked for several decades in Nice as well as in Cagnes-sur-Mer. Throughout his career, he developed an approach based on proximity, listening, and attention to his patients.
Taking advantage of this field experience, he then founded a network of seven retirement homes in the Alpes-Maritimes. These establishments, which now employ nearly 280 people, are based on a deeply human vision of elderly care, emphasizing quality of life, respect, and dignity.
The ceremony, which brought together nearly 200 people, highlighted this lasting commitment and this significant contribution to serving the most vulnerable.
In his speech, Charles Ange Ginésy praised a career guided by strong values: “Paul never sought the spotlight. All his life, he has been driven by a simple yet essential requirement: to take care of others.”
The president of the Alpes-Maritimes department also emphasized the uniqueness of the model developed by Paul Bensadoun, based on retirement homes designed as real living places. In this approach, end-of-life is not a waiting game but a continuity.
Establishments driven by a strong conviction: to recreate a family spirit, where dignity, respect, and attention to each individual are at the heart of everything. The ambition is clear: to make the structures “retirement homes… to live in.”
For his part, Paul Bensadoun received this distinction with emotion and humility: “I don’t know if I deserve it, but I take it as recognition of a lifetime commitment to serving others.”
He was keen to share this recognition with all his teams and his loved ones, reminding that this commitment is above all collective: “If I have been able to build this career, it is thanks to the values passed on to me and the people who have supported me. I obviously think of my family, my teams, and all those who, every day, work with me to support our elders with respect, dignity, and humanity. I share this distinction with them.”
A Deserved Recognition
Through this distinction, an entire vision of care and support is being honored. A vision based on humanity, generosity, and loyalty to essential values, in a context where issues related to the aging population are more central than ever.
