Guérande: at the hospital, a socio-esthetician at the bedside of patients

Julie Lelong comes regularly to the bedside of the patients of Guérande hospital (Loire-Atlantique).

Julie is neither a visitor nor a caregiver. She is a socio-esthetician.

“It’s very very pleasant”, smiles Berthe, 95, hospitalized in Guérande. Like other patients in wing C of the intercommunal hospital, this resident of La Baule received a visit from Julie, a socio-esthetician.

I was very surprised, I did not know that it was done in a hospital. Julie massaged my hand, cut my nails and we had a long chat. That too is very pleasant. She’s very kind,

“I take the time”

For 4 years, Julie Lelong has been coming regularly to the Guérande hospital in general medicine and in the palliative care unit.

For one afternoon, on Monday, she provides aesthetic care, applies nail polish, massages and above all soothes anxieties, offers a few moments of well-being, chats, brings comfort, other than medical .

I take the time, it’s a chance,

Julie also officiates at hospital center of Saint-Nazaire in the pulmonology department and with the League Against Cancer.

Always with the caregivers’ agreement, the socio-esthetician goes from room to room, offering her services.

When people are there for a while, I sense an expectation.

Philippe Penven, healthcare executive, notes:

It’s true, Julie is expected by both patients and staff. It is a precious presence.

Julie is a beautician by training, she practiced the profession for 10 years in an institute.

But I was missing the human, empathetic side. And I discovered the profession of socio-esthetician. Patients bring me a lot. It’s very rewarding, because people are always happy. I know I’m not there to save them, but sometimes, one hand on another, it can ease the pain.

A call for donations

An association of caregivers, Artemise (1), finances Julie’s visit. But since the health crisis, donations have dried up to the point that the socio-esthetician only comes every other Monday instead of once a week.

We would like to relaunch this service every week and make it permanent,

Hence the appeal for donations launched at the beginning of the year.

(1) The association works to promote patient comfort. She is currently working on a project around aromatherapy.