Charente-Maritime: Employees at the Marennes nursing home denounce "unacceptable" working conditions

The group defending the facility sent a letter demanding improvements in the care of residents.

The tone is serious, the words carefully chosen. In an open letter addressed to local and health authorities, staff members of the nursing home (EHPAD - Établissement d'hébergement pour personnes âgées dépendantes) at the Marennes hospital, organized into a defense collective, denounce a situation they deem "alarming." Between chronic understaffing, excessive workload, and a loss of meaning in their work, they say they can no longer guarantee the quality of care or the dignity of the residents in their charge.

For several months, staff have described a daily reality marked by "constant understaffing," jeopardizing the safety and well-being of the elderly. They report exhausting days, unstable schedules, and extended hours: "Some employees work twelve hours instead of seven, and night shift workers work ten or twelve hours instead of eight." In this context, taking time off has become a real struggle.

Some evenings, a single caregiver has to look after 30 residents; at night, 60.

The excessive workload results in "extreme fatigue." According to the group, a caregiver may have to perform up to 15 bed baths per day, while also handling other care-related tasks. New arrivals, often untrained, learn "on the job," to the detriment, they say, of the quality of care. Some evenings, a single caregiver has to look after 30 residents; at night, 60. The movements become mechanical, and bed baths are "reduced to head, hands, bottom," due to lack of time. "This does not respect the dignity of the residents," they write.

Tensions are rising within the teams. Incidents and sick leave are on the rise, creating a vicious cycle of absenteeism and disorganization. To "save time," residents are reportedly being put to bed very early in the evening, and nighttime security checks are becoming less frequent. The group considers this situation "unacceptable."

Faced with this situation, the staff are demanding the immediate hiring of day and night shift personnel. As a reminder, in November 2024, 17 positions were eliminated due to a deficit caused by rising energy prices and salary increases. This represented the loss of one nursing position every morning in every department.

When contacted, the hospital management in La Rochelle sought to reassure the public. They stated that "staff concerns are being addressed" and acknowledged that "temporary absenteeism is leading to organizational adjustments." However, they denied any reduction in night staff and emphasized the priority given to "the quality of care for residents." Management affirmed that "a temporary reorganization" is underway, with "scheduling adjustments" designed to improve working conditions. They asserted that they are "fully committed to supporting the teams and ensuring an optimal working environment."

Between the caregivers' cry for help and the management's assurances, the gap still seems wide. But behind the words, a single concern is expressed: that of offering dependent residents humane, attentive, and dignified care.