In Seine-Maritime, the national association network ADMR (Aide à Domicile en Milieu Rural) offers a home help service. In Rouen, we met Dimitri, home help for AMDR 76 during his morning visit to Viviane, one of the beneficiaries he accompanies.
We find Dimitri in the autonomy residence (new name for residences for the elderly) “Saint-Filleul” in Rouen where Viviane lives. It is 8 a.m. and like every day, 365 days a year, a home helper from the ADMR stops by Viviane to help her get her day off to a good start.
Today, it’s Dimitri, 21, a history college student. Alongside his lessons, to meet his needs, he took on a job as a home helper at ADMR 76a personal assistance association located throughout France, including Rouen.
« Do you want me to do something special today? »
A sentence that Dimitri pronounces during each round with the five beneficiaries whom he accompanies regularly, during his 44 hours of monthly interventions. That day, Viviane, 75, answered “Not much today”. Dimitri will therefore go on a service and classic but necessary care, these things that it becomes difficult to accomplish as you get older or in a situation of illness or disability. Small cleaning, washing, application of cream, putting on compression stockings…
An hour passes quickly. Dimitri has a small stopwatch to be sure to ensure a full hour for his intervention. These usually last 45 minutes to an hour. This can take up to three hours depending on the individual needs of the people being helped.
Valuable visits
Viviane has lived in her residence for five years. It was a courageous life that made her tired and health problems that brought her there. This lady worked in the mines of the North from her 14 to 17 years. She was then a farm worker, and then had five children.
Today, she lives on medical oxygen and cannot leave her home. She spends all of her time in her twenty square meter studio and has very few visitors. The grocery delivery person, health personnel or one of the ADMR’s home helpers. Very valuable visits, then.
“It represents a lot of things that I can’t define for you, because for me, being on my own, it’s important, a person who comes to my house and brings what we need, that means a lot…” (Viviane, recipient of ADMR home help)
“These jokes bring the sun into the apartment”
For his part, Dimitri finds a lot of meaning in this activity. He could have done something else but heard about ADMR through his mother. And he went there. The young man dreams of being a teacher or an anthropologist and this experience gives him useful skills in these professions.
“For the teacher side, you need social skills, pedagogy, being able to take it upon yourself and as home help, the elderly bring their experience, me, I’m a little baby, they have a lot of anecdotes to tell me and it’s interesting to always meet new people who are very friendly and kind”.
Dimitri talks about what he does with seriousness and depth, he is attentive to his gestures and considerate in his words. Viviane does not fail to tease him and he does not fail to answer her with humor, always respectfully and with in mind that “these jokes bring sunshine into the apartment”as Viviane says with a smile.
Anthropologist, historian or home helper?
Two years now that Dimitri exercises. Despite the professions envisaged, he does not rule out continuing as a home helper and who knows, going full-time.
In the meantime, the clock has turned. “I let you draw? » Come on, there’s still time for a game of Triominos, a game that Viviane likes. ” Who wins ? », dare we. “For now, it’s me!” », exclaims Viviane, happy.
It’s nine o’clock already. Dimitri resumes his student uniform and greets Viviane, who responds with a « Gros Kisses ! “. “I call him my kid sometimes,” she concludes, moved.
To do what Dimitri does, contact ADMR 76 by phone at 02.32.93.90.90 or send his application by email to: [email protected]. Salespeople, florists, applicants come from all walks of life. 70% of them are in retraining. This year, 350 recruitments are planned, all services combined. Trained or not, you can apply at any age to join the ADMR academy and complete the home help training for a period of two and a half months, alternating theory and practice.
The Departmental Federation of ADMR associations in Seine-Maritime in 2022 is:
- 43 different home services
- 2 home nursing services (SSIAD)
- 1 health center
- 1 home meal delivery service, 1 DIY / gardening service
- 250 volunteers
- 1,436 permanent employees
- 411 employees on fixed-term contracts
- 6737 beneficiaries.
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