"I have asked for all possible and imaginable guarantees. We are a democratic country and anyone who respects our laws is free to settle here. But I warned Orpea's managers in Luxembourg that the spotlight is on them, that they were expected to do something about it,” explains family minister (DP). A few days ago, her ministry sent a letter announcing that Orpea, to open a residence for the elderly in Merl for several months, had been granted provisional approval.
The request for approval was submitted at the end of January, at the same time as the about Orpea were being made in France after the publication of the book Les Fossoyeurs by journalist Victor Castanet. "I felt that I had to have as many guarantees as possible to give them approval," adds Corinne Cahen.
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An external evaluation requested
One of these guarantees was that all the day-to-day management of the establishment would be carried out in the grand duchy and that there would be stability for the staff. At the Orpea site in Luxembourg, two appointments have already been announced within the structure which is called Récital. Stéphanie Rondoz has been appointed director and Gérald Vanhove is the chef (he received the international cooking trophy at the École Ducasse in Meudon). The Récital facility includes both a serviced residence with 23 flats and a 123-bed nursing home. No official opening date has so far been announced.
Corinne Cahen received the managers of the Luxembourg structure at the beginning of last week. "They had already provided us with all the documents we had requested, and we once again spoke about the fact that decisions must be taken in Luxembourg, whether it be about personnel, equipment, etc. They also promised me that they would do everything possible to ensure that the project is carried out in Luxembourg,” the minister said. The managers haver pledged to carry out an external evaluation with the residents before the provisional approval expires, i.e. in a year's time.
I always hoped that Orpea would withdraw from the Luxembourg market on its own, and that another management company would take over the project.
"What interests me is to have all the guarantees on the good treatment of residents and employees.” Cahen added. “They were able to reassure me. I told them that the press, the government, the ministries, the residents, everyone would be watching, and they will be watched more severely than the others. They are right in the centre of town and I explained to them that in Luxembourg, everyone knows everyone else. I think that what happened in France is simply not possible here…they have no interest in taking risks."
Member of Parliament (CSV), who sits on the family committee, said he had "always hoped that Orpea would withdraw from the Luxembourg market on its own and that another management company would take over the project.” He added: "It's funny that with everything that's happening in France, the group is still applying for authorisations. They could have waited and come back once the scandal had passed." Spautz recognises that "the minister's position is not easy, in her place I might have refused to give approval, but Orpea would surely have attacked the ministry and the law being with them, they would have won. But maybe during this year of provisional approval, a warning will be given by the residents, families and neighbours and Orpea will have to leave.”
The construction of the Récital nursing home, with a surface area of more than 16,000 m2, was completed at the end of 2021. (Photo: Guy Wolff/Maison Moderne)
Unannounced checks possible
Marc Spautz remains sceptical about the intentions of the group, which claims to be the world leader in the care of the elderly. "For me, it is pure capitalism, Orpea really sends out the image that money is more important than the living conditions of the elderly, and it makes me sick to my stomach that they are getting approval. But I agree that everyone has the right to a second chance," he admits.
Cahen says she has gone further than the law requires, and hopes that the opening of Orpea will not harm the image of the grand duchy. "And then everyone will be welcome to see how we treat our elderly and how we operate, we have nothing to hide. And the revelations could not have been the only reason to say no to the accreditation, it would not have been fair compared to other structures. We asked them to provide more guarantees than others, but no one is bound to do the impossible.”
The revelations could not have been the only reason for saying no to the accreditation, it would not have been fair compared to other structures.
Like all care homes in the country, Orpea will undergo two controls per year: one by the ministry for family and another by the ministry of social security. “We also intervene unexpectedly following complaints or reports,” Corinne Cahen confirms. "It doesn't happen often, but it has happened. And I find that you can feel it when there is a problem in a residence: the echo comes back, as the Luxembourg expression goes."
Orpea has also been in the news in France over the last few days, placing itself once again under judicial protection to renegotiate its debt. This news does not worry the minister too much. “Luxembourg law provides that if a management company, for one reason or another, cannot continue to run a home, another management company can be appointed to take over. I'm watching what happens, but I don't think it will have any repercussions for us."
This article was first published in and has been translated by Delano.