Antibes Juan-les-Pins Council steps up measures to help people in difficulty
Confronted with the difficult economic situation due to the credit crisis, Antibes Juan-les-Pins Council has decided to pursue a policy of investment (see Infoville number 9 for details of the large building projects), while continuing to concentrate aid on the most disadvantaged families. In concrete terms, this policy is implemented by constantly increasing subsidies accorded to the Town Social Service Centre (CCAS) with a budget of 11.9 million euros, in conjunction with more initiatives concerning the most isolated in our society. This continually increasing social aid budget for people in difficulty is always accompanied by a network of social workers involved in initiatives such as “Battling with loneliness”. People suffering severe isolation and loneliness will receive visits from volunteers in the next few days who will spend some time with them. With the arrival of winter it is more important than ever that social workers patrol the town to look out for homeless people and extend a helping hand. ...
Urgent social aid for homeless people
In 2009 (1), 14,937 people were registered at the Municipal Homeless Persons’ Centre, a total of 57 people a day. A complete service is offered to arrivals. They can avail themselves of medical care for minor injuries through to a meeting with a qualified psychiatrist and have access to lockers, a launderette and beauty care and there is a full meal and accommodation programme. By working in partnership with Antibes Juan-les-Pins Hospital, the Red Cross and the Adrafon association, there are also art and writing workshops available to everyone. Homeless people can also receive help with administrative procedures from a specialised consultant and a social worker can examine their situation and determine their rights.
Complete global support
Homeless people receive complete global support at the municipal day centre which is open six days a week all year. The night refuge is closed from 15 June to 15 September. For the last two years there has also been a patrol car which operates three half days a week.
Two social workers, in partnership with a Red Cross doctor, meet homeless people to establish contact with them and inform them of the conditions of entry to the municipal centre.
This day centre operates on a voluntary basis and has seen some 172 people coming forward in the last ten months. Some fifteen have elected to join the centre or a hospital department. Every report of a homeless person in trouble is followed by a visit by the special patrol.
(1) Number to 31 October.
A microcredit enabled Eugenie to keep her job
Last spring, Eugenie, a 30 year-old home-carer, was the victim of a motorbike accident and her scooter was completely destroyed. “I went to the bank to ask for funds to buy another scooter, but as I wasn’t a permanent employee the loan was refused. The problem was that I couldn’t work any more if I didn’t have my own transport.”
It is to help this sort of problem that Antibes Juan-les-Pins Council became the first in the department to instigate a personal microcredit system.
The bank loan, from 300 to 3,000 euros, is an important financial boost to help people get on their feet and obtain or keep a job. “That’s what happened to me”, Eugenie explained. “I got a microcredit of 1,500 euros with low interest rates so that I could buy a new scooter and keep my job.”
Following in Eugenie’s footsteps, a man in his fifties has recently financed a small business with a microcredit. He has bought two donkeys and is offering ecological undergrowth clearing…
Battling with loneliness: company during the festive season for isolated people
Christmas is often a difficult time for people on their own. Antibes Juan-les-Pins Council considered this problem and started the “Battling with loneliness” initiative in the year 2000.
The idea of the visit is not just giving another present, but more importantly some company and friendliness between Christmas and the New Year. The initiative is made possible by a network of people including doctors, postmen, associations and shopkeepers who notify the CCAS of people who are completely on their own. In nine years, this network has proved indispensable for the “Battling with loneliness” operation and keeping the original spirit in which it was created. Some fifteen volunteers, retired people and CCAS employees, visit the homes of people on their own to spend some time with them. They never arrive empty-handed and their gift may be something for the festive season, a bouquet or perhaps a gift voucher.
At the end of this month, 344 beneficiaries will receive a present and a painting by a schoolchild in Antibes Juan-les-Pins. Isolated people on this register also receive regular visits by volunteers and social workers through the year, with interventions always coordinated by the CCAS.
More than 300 meals delivered to homes every day
Every day, more than 300 meals are delivered to the homes of dependent people over the age of 60. In accord with the policy of maintaining people in their own homes, the service has been stepped up in 2009 with the implementation of another meals-on-wheels round.
This fifth meals round has been able to cater for everyone that was on the waiting list and meal delivery can start just 24 hours after people have ordered the service.
This adaptability has seen the delivery of 9,000 extra meals in 2009. The nutritional value of meals is a top priority and they are planned with the aid of a dietician.
Antibes Juan-les-Pins Council is ever more vigilant in giving aid to needy people, and through the mediation of the CCAS, can offer meals at varying prices according to income. With maximum benefits applied, the cost of a meal can be as low as 1.75 euros.
School canteen meals at 75 cents for families in difficulty
In 2009 Antibes Juan-les-Pins Council re-evaluated the social aid programme and put more funds into subsidising school meals with the aim of helping families suffering serious financial problems. The plan was clear: all children in Antibes Juan-les-Pins must be able to eat everyday at the canteen.
To ensure this measure was carried out, three new benefit scales were implemented with benefits up to 75% of the cost of a meal. The remaining 75 cents is the price parents pay, which is 10% of the actual price of the meal.
Since this measure has been put in place, 517 children have already benefitted. The cost to the council is approximately 80,000 euros.
A Therapeutic Day Centre: a moment of respite for families with Alzheimer’s sufferers
Antibes Juan-les-Pins is one of the few towns to have opened an independent Therapeutic Day Centre for Alzheimer’s sufferers.
Opened in October 2007, the TDC can accommodate 20 people per day.
The centre provides global care for the disease. This begins with a diagnosis provided by the consultant clinic at Antibes Hospital and is followed by memory workshops by the CCAS. In 2011, temporary accommodation will be available at the new retirement home at the hospital.
“It’s an enormous relief for Lucie”
Patients are seen every day at the Fontonne centre in Place Jean Aude. “My wife Lucie is 87 and has been visiting the centre for two months. It does her a great amount of good. She’s welcomed by competent staff, and psychologically it’s an enormous relief for her”, Jacques told us. Mindful of close friends and family like Jacques, there are patrol groups also organised in conjunction with the TDC. For sufferers, the centre aims to bring them out of their isolation and help prevent the disease worsening. At this stage patients attend workshops and do various physiotherapy activities.
These may include games, physical exercise, memory workshops or singing in a choir and there are also cooking classes. Professional staff are constantly on duty and every three months each patient has a check-up by a neuropsychologist to assess the physiotherapy programme. Fees at the TDC vary according to income and level of dependence of the patient. The centre is open Monday to Friday from 9.00 to 17.30. It closes at Christmas and in August.
Last spring, Eugenie, a 30 year-old home-carer, was the victim of a motorbike accident and her scooter was completely destroyed. “I went to the bank to ask for funds to buy another scooter, but as I wasn’t a permanent employee the loan was refused. The problem was that I couldn’t work any more if I didn’t have my own transport.” 
