A court in Nanterre, France concluded that the company had been responsible for the death of an elderly person under its care in 2017. The patient had been hospitalised as a result of a fracture of both femurs for which no explanation was found. Orpea has been ordered to pay €65,000 in damages to the deceased’s son.

The court’s decision came after a judicial expert’s assessment stating that the patient’s injury had occurred in the care home facility. The care home’s staff had signaled the elderly person’s substantial weight loss and drowsiness since August 2016 but Orpea had not contacted an attending physician or the family.

A book by journalist Victor Castsanet had alleged cases of abuse in Orpea’s care homes in France after which the government launched an investigation. Meanwhile a number of complaints by families of residents registered at Orpea have been filed in France.

Luxembourg’s family ministry is currently evaluating Orpea’s application to open a care home in Merl in the capital and

In January 2022 Orpea became the subject of  in its care homes in France. Castanet’s book published on 26 January is the source of the accusations. In May the assisted living company landed in hot water once more after cross-border journalism cooperative Investigate Europe published a report alleging that Orpea had used a Luxembourg holding company Lipany to embezzle money.