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Minister for Family Affairs and Integration Corinne Cahen announced that Orpea, the controversial French operator of care homes, has been allowed to open a facility in Merl.
A number of reports alleging serious misconduct, including lack of food and care for residents, made rounds in France after journalist Victor Castanet published an investigative book, called 'Les Fossoyeurs' ('The Gravediggers'). However, in conversation with RTL, Minister Cahen showed herself confident that Orpea will work in conscientious manner.
The politician from the Democratic Party (DP) is convinced that these grievances could never occur in the Grand Duchy: "We are simply smaller, ... these types of reports would quickly spread in Luxembourg and we have a control mechanism that should prevent anything like that from happening. But, I have read the book and I think it is very upsetting if even only half of the reports are true. We cannot allow this to happen, after all one should treat other people the same way one wants to be treated, particularly in old age."
Read also: Care provider Orpea to be subjected to rigorous checks, says Corinne Cahen
Minister Cahen noted that she was ensured by Orpea that the operation in Luxembourg will be independent. Furthermore, the group promised to commission an external report before their license expires. Both the Ministry and care insurers will also conduct annual reports of the facility even after the group has received a definitive license.
"Of course one can never really say what happens behind closed doors. But, we have to receive every necessary guarantee that people are treated well ... I also hope that our new law will have passed by then, which will create an ethics council and hire a mediator for every care home."
Around 120 beds for senior citizens and those in need of care will be set up in the Merl facility. According to Minister Cahen, Orpea further plans on upping that number to 3,000 across the Grand Duchy in the future.
