Some are in full wetsuits, others are simply in swimsuits, rubbing their arms before entering the ocean. There are around ten brave people, this Thursday, September 26 in the morning, on Pereire beach in Arcachon (Gironde), braving the rain and the wind to practice longe-côte – a sport consisting of walking with the body submerged above from the navel but always below the arms.
They are alone on the sand this week, without their fellow followers of the Thursday morning yoga class. Weather permitting, the latter was transferred a few meters further, inside the Tir au Vol municipal hall. Offered by the city to anyone who wishes to attend for more than ten years, these courses attract a regular clientele. For Magali, who recently arrived in the town of 12,000 inhabitants, “it allows you to meet people”. Like her neighbor on the carpet, Coline, who has just celebrated her 80th birthday, “conquered”. “I had polyarthritis and it completely calmed it down, she laughs. These classes allow me to talk to my body, but also to communicate with others, I couldn’t ask for better! »
Population aging
Free sports classes open to all, all year round, a free bike for each Arcachon resident, collective prevention workshops on nutrition, sleep, a doctor available 24 hours a day or even a free medical-psycho-social assessment from 50 years old… Since the arrival of Mayor Yves Foulon (Les Républicains) in 2001, the city has implemented a series of measures for its residents with a single objective: to live in good health. “How can we improve people’s lives more than by taking care of their health? This is a crucial subject that we sometimes leave too much to the State. He is responsible for giving the information: eat five fruits and vegetables a day, for example. As mayor, I then want to explain to residents how to eat well. We have therefore decided to organize free workshops during which health professionals and nutritionists intervene.explains the elected official.
Like many coastal towns such as Menton, Deauville or Le Touquet, Arcachon is seeing its population aging – 65% of residents are over 65 – and must adapt. Enabling these residents to stay at home as long as possible is one of the wishes of the municipality. The town hall fully supports a home accessibility diagnosis by an occupational therapist in order to adapt your home as much as possible – by installing a special shower or a stair lift, for example. It also offers financial assistance for the work.
Fight against senior isolation
Marie-Joëlle, 86 years old, benefited from it. In the Tir au Vol room, this Thursday morning, this resident of Arcachon for forty years modestly recounts that after having parachuted for the first time for her 70th birthday, then for her 80th birthday, she decided to do it again every year with his grandson. Despite the death of her husband, this octogenarian says she does not suffer from loneliness, her bridge club of which she is honorary president taking up a lot of her time.
Isolation of the elderly is unfortunately quite common. In the city center, the MA.AT (Médiathèque Arcachon tourism associations), an intergenerational place, was specially created with the aim of bringing everyone together. Mixing games library, sports and computer classes, concierge service, it welcomes visitors who flock this Thursday lunchtime. Chantal and Danielle, 76 and 82 years old, come out of their gentle exercise class. “Don’t imagine we’re carrying weights either!” It’s for old people, we sit on a chair”, they joke. Both build their daily lives around the activities planned here. “It’s rare that we don’t meet there at least three times a week,” notes Chantal.
If some are regulars, a little further on, another Danielle discovers the offers. At 78 years old, this Bordeaux woman has just moved to the ocean with her husband. “I am delighted to see that I will be able to continue doing pilates classes. I am now looking for a choir, and if one does not exist, I would like to speak to you to launch the project, she says. I feel like we’re going to stay young in Arcachon! » In September 2024, the city had 22 centenarians.
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Old age still awaits its law
From 2030, those over 65 will be more numerous than those under 15 in France.
Emmanuel Macron had promised, from his first five-year term, a law on old age and autonomy, which never saw the light of day due to the deterioration of public accounts.
In March 2024 was adopted a bill relating to “measures to build a society of healthy aging and autonomy”. It requires the government to present a multi-year programming law “every five years”the first version of which is required “before December 31, 2024”.
At the time, several presidents of parliamentary groups, of which Bruno Retailleau, now in government, had demanded a “precise timetable” for an old age law.
