For the international press, the scale of the scandal that has shaken the Orpea group is commensurate with the challenges of caring for an ever-increasing aging population.
The crisis that “engulfed” the Orpea group, world leader in nursing homes and clinics, “keeps getting worse”, report it Financial Times. The company’s shares have fallen sharply since journalist Victor Castanet published the findings of a three-year investigation in his book on Wednesday (January 26th). The Gravediggers. This weekend, the managing director of Orpea was removed from office by the board of directors. It is now his successor, Philippe Charrier, who must face the scandal.
“According to the book, the company is cutting back on its expenses in order to save money in the approximately 370 retirement homes it manages in France, to the point that the elderly who live there are mistreated”, explains the British daily. Abuse would indeed be put in the nursing homes run by the group, with meals limited to what is strictly necessary, rationed adult diapers and “piss smells”.
“With a turnover of 3.9 billion euros in 2020, Orpea is present in 23 countries, with a network of 1,156 accommodations for the elderly”, specify the Times, who notes that “French scandal should spare the group’s retirement homes in Ireland”, where it dominates the private market. Orpea indeed explained that its national subsidiaries were completely autonomous. The company, which denied Victor Castanet’s accusations, also announced
[…]
