Under this new legislation, the Family Ministry will have broader capabilities to monitor and regulate the living conditions of older residents in these establishments.
The primary focus will be on ensuring that promised services are effectively delivered, staff adheres to prescribed protocols, and residents experience a satisfactory quality of life. The aim is to prevent incidents similar to those reported in other countries.
In the future, the Ministry plans to conduct comprehensive quality assessments in retirement and nursing homes. MP Claude Lamberty, the rapporteur of the law, explained in the Chamber of Deputies that these evaluations would encompass several criteria, including the existence of staff training plans, whether there are clear procedures for medical visits, the quality of menu choices in the restaurant, and whether animation programmes are clearly displayed.
Every operator will be subject to inspection by the Ministry at least once every three years. The Christian Social People’s Party (CSV) ultimately voted in favour of the law, although the main opposition party expressed concerns.
MP Marc Spautz highlighted that while ensuring quality is essential, there could have been a discussion about whether the Ministry should be the one to conduct these assessments. Spautz suggested the possibility of involving a third party, such as the ombudsman.
For establishments where quality falls below the required standards, operators will be obliged to present improvement plans within three months. In extreme cases, an operator may face the revocation of its license.
In addition, the new law mandates an increase in staffing ratios, and all structures and mobile care services will be required to establish ethics committees. Finally, in the interest of transparency, a dedicated register will be introduced, containing published prices for all activities and services provided.
