On the occasion of World Alzheimer’s Disease Prevention Day, the Mayor of Nice visited the Claude Pompidou Institute to tour the day care center managed by the association France Alzheimer 06.
“When you enter here, you are full of hope,” shares Christian Estrosi, surrounded by Alzheimer’s patients, their caregivers “very committed” and the staff of the structure located at the Claude Pompidou Institute, 10 rue Molière in Nice. This day care center is managed by the association France Alzheimer 06. It is one of the flagship initiatives of the association, which also includes a respite platform, respite stops, and freed-up time.
For Federico Palermit, the new president of the local association, the goal of September 21st is to shine a spotlight on the patients and their caregivers. The successor of Liliane Imbert describes this day care as “a formula that provides relief”. Indeed, it appears in the caregivers’ lives as a real breath of fresh air.
“Honestly, we need it,” says spontaneously Allegra, soon to be 80, caregiver of her husband. For her, this structure is synonymous with freedom: “When we wake up in the morning and know they are going to the center, we tell ourselves that we will be able to accomplish a lot during the day, that we can go wherever we want because we are not tied down by another. We are not afraid to come back and find that a mistake was made or even a wandering occurred.”
In France, 1.2 million people are affected by Alzheimer’s disease or a related illness. 225,000 new cases are recorded each year. In Nice, it is estimated that 4,000 individuals suffer from this neurodegenerative disease, which remains incurable today despite recent scientific advances. It initially causes memory disorders, and then language and learning difficulties, leading to a loss of autonomy.
A place of sharing, solidarity and empathy
Here, Allegra, like every caregiver, can meet people going through the same situation and with whom she feels understood. “We realize that we are not the only ones experiencing this,” she explains. This day care is also a means to break isolation and recreate social connections among caregivers. “It allows us to reclaim our place as human beings and no longer just feel like we exist because of the disease,” testifies Stéphanie, 55, caregiver to her mother.
“This structure is extraordinary, there’s an exceptional empathy, moral and physical support,” emphasizes Claude, 76, caregiver of his wife who attends the facility three to four times a week. He continues with humility and gratitude: “We are not dealing with random people, we are a family and for us, caregivers, it’s monumental. Somehow, it allows us to move forward or at least stay stable.”
For the patients afflicted with the disease and their caregivers, the association provides many activities both to stimulate the former and relieve the latter, all while “getting out of the world of the disease.” Patients have the opportunity to engage in numerous manual, artistic, and therapeutic activities during workshops. Christian Estrosi’s visit was an opportunity for them to make a pink dreamcatcher, which Claude and Ivana presented to the mayor as a gift for his daughter, Bianca.
The association also offers personalized support, training for caregivers, and conducts numerous informational activities. However, one particular action stood out. The caregivers all fondly remember the four-day trip to the Var organized last June. “We felt truly liberated, it felt like we were in another world,” shares Allegra, hoping for such an event to happen again.
On October 6, 2023, the mayor invites caregivers to the Palais de la Méditerranée for a morning of information from 8:30 AM to 12 PM, organized by the CCAS, on the occasion of National Caregivers Day.
