Explained: the admr home help network in france

THE LONGSTANDING SERVICE IS VITAL FOR MANY ELDERLY AND ISOLATED PEOPLE This July, the ADMR will celebrate its 80th birthday, but what do they actually do? You might have noticed the ADMR

logo on a small van taking meals to elderly neighbours, but there is a lot more to this organisation than you might imagine. WHAT IS THE ADMR? ADMR stands for Aide à Domicile en Milieu Rural

(home help in rural areas).  It is a national network of 94,000 employees and 78,000 volunteers offering regular, practical support to families and individuals in rural areas.  Their

involvement ranges from delivering a hot meal to housework and help with other daily tasks, as well as medical support. Read more: Explained: What does RTT mean in France? HOW IT BEGAN The

ADMR was originally founded in 1945 to help rural families in post-war France to tackle household chores and to find employment.  By the 1960s, it was employing people to help the elderly

and to offer support with daily housework, then by 1980, it started to employ trained nurses and opened a services de soins Infirmiers so that the sick and elderly could receive nursing and

hygiene care in their own homes.  Also in the 1980s, it opened nurseries and crèche facilities to help take care of youngsters. It now helps over 720,000 clients every year. WILL IT HELP ME?

While ADMR’s primary focus remains the elderly and disabled of all ages, it can also visit you following a serious illness or hospital stay, helping you with daily tasks until you are fully

independent again.  In parallel, it can offer practical help to the families and children of clients, creating a true support network. It is a national organisation but has bases across the

country and offers a local, personal approach. Read more: What are the rules for claiming aid for home carer in France? WHAT CAN THE ADMR HELP WITH? Beyond the meals-on-wheels service that

is mostly for the elderly, the ADMR can help with housework, washing, ironing, childcare, personal hygiene, getting dressed or getting ready for bed, getting out to the shops and even a

nightwatch service. DO I HAVE TO PAY?  Many of the nursing services are fully reimbursed, while household services are generally covered by funding or a 50% tax credit, depending on your

income.  Whatever your situation, you could be eligible for certain benefits and funding that will give you access to ADMR services. Ask your Conseil Départemental about APA funding

(Allocation Personnalisée d'Autonomie) for autonomy in your own home or PCH (Prestation Compensatoire du Handicap) for anyone who is disabled.  If you are facing hospital treatment,

visit a social assistant before it is scheduled as they can arrange ARDH (Aide au Retour à Domicile après Hospitalisation), which is valid for three months. FIND OUT MORE Visit admr.org and

click on the top button for ADMR près de chez vous (ADMR near you). You can then discover your nearest centre, the range of services it offers and how to contact it.