A family caregiver is a worker or a retiree who helps, in a non-professional capacity, a dependent elderly or disabled relative (spouse or child) to cope with everyday tasks. Today there are almost 4 million family caregivers in France and the figure is set to increase as the needs of our ageing society have to be met. Now that the Dependency Reform has been deferred, Casino felt it was essential for the Group to show it cares… for caregivers.
Some 100 Casino Group employees came to listen to speakers from CLIC, (the Local Information and Coordination Centre in gerontology) of the Loire administrative department, the MDPH (Departmental Disabled Persons Office), AG2R-La Mondiale Insurance, a psychologist, the Casino Group’s national referring physician and an occupational physician, as well as moving stories from family caregivers of elderly and disabled persons. The aim was not just to inform and educate Group employees, but more especially to unburden caregivers by providing help and support. A “first” in the business world, the conference was a success.
To ensure that this would not be a “one-off” initiative, a questionnaire was distributed asking participants to choose the topics they would like to learn more about. The most popular ones were inheritance issues, services and benefits for disabled and elderly people and the “I am a carer – let’s talk about it!” discussion group. Between December 2011 and June 2012, monthly workshops will be held for groups of around 12 employees, led by a specialist from the sector.
In Q1 2012, a dedicated handbook – “Have a care for carers” – will be distributed to all Group employees to inform them of the services and benefits available and point them towards stakeholder agencies.
A second conference will be organised in 2012.
Press Contacts
Image Sept
Grégoire Lucas and Priscille Reneaume
Tel.: 01 53 70 74 70
glucas@image7.fr – preneaume@image7.fr
Casino
Frédéric Croccel
Tel.: 01 53 65 24 39
fcroccel@groupe-casino.fr
