Tuesday, August 12, Thaon-les-Vosges formalized his commitment by signing the charter “City caregiver Alzheimer”. Eight concrete actions will be implemented to make the city more accessible, inclusive and attentive to the needs of people with cognitive disorders and their caregivers.
On Tuesday August 12, the Communal Center for Social Action (CCAS) welcomed a highlight in emotion and symbolic: the official signature of the charter “City helping Alzheimer”. In the presence of the mayor Cédric Haxaire, Anne-Marie Hermann, president of the France Alzheimer Vosges association, numerous volunteers, elected officials, members of the CCAS and the municipal police, this act comes to concretize a commitment long made by the municipality.
This initiative is part of a clear will: to make Thaon-les-Vosges an accessible city, benevolent and attentive to the needs of people with Alzheimer’s disease or related cognitive disorders, as well as to those of their caregivers.
Three axes of action at the heart of the charter
The Charter, written by France Alzheimer, is based on three main axes:
- Orientation in public space: improve visual or sound benchmarks to allow sick people to move more serenely;
- Inclusive: promote social integration and participation in the local life of patients and their loved ones;
- Awareness: inform and train citizens, municipal agents and economic actors on the disease and its challenges.
These orientations are not only theoretical, they are available in concrete actions.
Specific commitments for daily life
Among the measures planned, the city undertakes in particular to:
- Regularly insert information on the disease in its communication media (municipal magazine, electronic panels, public display);
- Promote the free training offered by France Alzheimer for caregivers;
- Develop or welcome inclusive initiatives such as “memory cafes”;
- Facilitate travel to activity places thanks to suitable transport solutions;
- Set up awareness -raising projects with merchants, craftsmen, bus drivers and other local players;
- Intervene in schools, through extracurricular activities or educational games, to educate the youngest;
- Promote the participation of sick people and their caregivers in cultural, artistic or sporting activities;
- Install adapted guidance benchmarks in public places.
40 years of associative engagement
Created forty years ago by families faced with the lack of support, France Alzheimer’s mission has been the mission of helping patients live well, despite the disease, and supporting their caregivers. “” Having good times is learned “Recalls the president. The training provided makes it possible to acquire concrete tools, while preserving the dignity and autonomy of the persons concerned.
For the municipality, this work is fully integrated into the philosophy of the charter: creating a benevolent environment where everyone finds their place.
If Thaon-les-Vosges is officially committed today, the idea was born a year ago, when Nancy signed the Charter. “” It made us want to take the plunge, “Confides the mayor. “” We were already doing a lot, but this signature makes it possible to formalize and structure our action. »
The partnership with France Alzheimer Vosges is also intended to be operational. Municipal police, for example, will be trained to better detect situations of disorientation and intervene with tact. “” It is a question of avoiding clumsiness and adopting a listening posture “, Underlines Cédric Haxaire.
Talk about solutions and not just difficulties
One of the objectives of this approach is to bring the subject of cognitive disorders into public space, but in a constructive way. “” We want to talk about the disease not by the angle of difficulties, but by that of the solutions “Specifies the mayor.
He also wishes to recall an often overlooked point: ” People with Alzheimer’s remaining full -fledged citizens, who, in most cases, retain their civil rights. They must be able to continue to have a social life, to participate in the community. »
A commitment for a more inclusive company
The signature of this charter is much more than a symbolic gesture. It marks the will for the city of Thaon-les-Vosges to build a city where the difference does not exclude, but brings together. A city that adapts its services, forms its actors and informs its citizens so that everyone, sick or helpful, can continue to live fully.
The “Alzheimer’s help city” charter is therefore not an end in itself, but the starting point for a collective dynamic. A dynamic that could inspire other municipalities to follow the movement.
Léa Canet
