When a loved one starts to "lose track," we first think it's due to fatigue, age, a bit of stress... But then the forgetfulness piles up, questions are repeated, the person becomes disoriented on an otherwise familiar route, and that's when we realize it's not just a memory issue. In Nice, a city with a relatively elderly population, these situations are becoming more and more common, and nursing homes (EHPADs) have to adapt their staff and facilities to meet the increasing needs, not to mention accommodating families.
Nice is aging, and the search for a suitable nursing home is becoming more common.
If you're looking for facilities in Nice, there are tools available to compare offerings and identify establishments that provide Alzheimer's support, such as this dedicated page on Ehpad Nice (types of care, contact details, initial criteria). The idea isn't to choose "off the catalog," but rather to use it as a starting point to ask the right questions during a visit.
The local context partly explains this increase in demand. Nice has a population of 353,701, among whom 43,826 people are 75 years old or older, accounting for 12.4% of the population (Sources INSEE). Age remains the main risk factor for neurodegenerative diseases. When cognitive impairments set in, home care may be sufficient for a while, but it eventually reaches its limits, especially if nights become difficult or if there is a risk of wandering.
And then there's a reality we sometimes forget: relatives can't be present 24/7, even with the best intentions. A specialized nursing home is often the solution when safety becomes a priority, without wanting to turn a loved one into a "patient" all the time.
Alzheimer's: A Common and Often Prolonged Disease
Alzheimer's disease is a brain disorder that leads to a gradual decline in cognitive functions: recent memory, attention, language, orientation, and then everyday activities. The progression is slow, and this is precisely what makes the situation so trying for those around the patient (they adapt, then they have to readjust, and eventually they become exhausted...)
In France, current estimates suggest that there are between 1 and 1.2 million people affected, with about 225,000 new cases each year. On a global scale, dementia-like disorders affect approximately 57 million people, with nearly 10 million new cases annually.
In real life, the signs are not always "spectacular" at first. It could be a meal forgotten on the stove, an unpaid bill, accusations of theft, or a familiar route becoming impossible. And sometimes, it is the exhaustion of family members that raises the alarm, because they can no longer manage to keep the days safe, let alone the nights.
Why a specialized nursing home is not just simple accommodation
An EHPAD is a place for care and living, with 24/7 nursing presence. However, when Alzheimer's is accompanied by behavioral disturbances (agitation, aggression, hallucinations, sleep disorders), the challenge changes: it becomes necessary to secure and soothe. Without resorting to a purely medicinal response.
Understand before "calming": professional recommendations emphasize that before increasing treatments, one should look for possible causes (pain, discomfort, infection, hunger, noise, anxiety, change in routine...). In a well-organized facility, the team observes, adjusts the environment, offers an activity, re-evaluates, and works with the doctor when necessary. It's not always dramatic, but it prevents many unnecessary escalations.
An environment that aids orientation: visual cues, careful lighting, spaces where one can walk without dead ends, secure access to the outdoors, small more "home-like" living units. These are details, but for a disoriented person, they really change the daily life, and can also reduce anxiety.
In practice, many facilities rely on small living units, adapted activities (music therapy, memory workshops, gardening...), and teams trained in non-verbal communication. This is often where the difference is made.
Protected Unit, PASA, UHR: Understanding Alzheimer's Care Options
During a visit, one quickly hears acronyms, and it seems like they all mean the same thing. However, these facilities do not have the same role or resources.
- **Protected Unit**: a unit within the nursing home with secured access, designed for individuals who are at risk of wandering and have orientation disorders.
- **PASA** (Pole of Activities and Adapted Care): daytime reception of residents with moderate cognitive disorders, offering supervised therapeutic and social activities.
- **UHR** (Enhanced Housing Unit): a small unit intended for individuals with more severe behavioral disorders, requiring intensified support.
The question to ask is very specific: **who supervises what, and when?** A PASA can be very useful, but it does not operate at night. A protected unit can be reassuring, but if the team is not trained, the atmosphere can quickly become tense. One must look at the facility, as well as how it functions on a daily basis.
Choosing an Alzheimer's Nursing Home: A Simple (and Realistic) Checklist
We often look at the room, the view, cleanliness. That's normal. But for Alzheimer's, some "invisible" criteria are just as important.
- Care Plan and Life Project: adapted activities, daily rhythm, respect for habits (napping, late rising, rituals).
- Team and Skills: Alzheimer's training, presence of a psychologist, a psychomotor therapist or an occupational therapist, medical coordination.
- Managing Difficult Situations: how the team reacts in case of agitation or opposition, what non-pharmacological tools are used.
- Nighttime: actual presence, rounds, fall prevention, ways to reassure a wandering person.
- Meals and Hydration: assistance if needed, adapted textures, prevention of malnutrition (often underestimated).
- Connection with Families: regular updates, possible participation, support during admission.
- Flexibility of Solutions: day care, temporary accommodation, possibility to test before a long stay.
A tip: if you can, ask for a visit in the late afternoon. That's often when disorientation becomes more pronounced, and the organization of the facility is truly visible.
Budget: significant disparities and assistance to be aware of
The cost depends on the status (public, non-profit, private), location, comfort, and especially on the authorization for social aid. National figures provide benchmarks, and they are telling.
According to a statistical study, the average daily price for permanent accommodation in 2023 is about 63.50 euros for a single room authorized for social aid housing (ASH), and 95.60 euros for a single room not authorized. Practically, this amounts to approximately 1,905 euros per month versus 2,868 euros per month, based on a 30-day period, just for accommodation.
And in the Alpes-Maritimes, prices are towards the higher end: the weighted average price of single rooms authorized for ASH, for instance, reaches 63.75 euros per day in 2023.
Additionally, there's the dependency rate, linked to the level of autonomy (GIR). To give an idea, the average rates for 2023 range from 6.12 euros per day (GIR 5-6) to 22.76 euros per day (GIR 1-2), which is about 184 to 683 euros per month before accounting for aid.
The APA (personalized autonomy allowance) can help finance part of this dependency, whether at home or in a facility. To understand the conditions and procedures, you can read our article: [L'APA, personalized autonomy allowance](https://www.gralon.net/articles/commerce-et-societe/services/article-l-apa--allocation-personnalisee-d-autonomie---presentation-et-demarches-2356.htm).
Finally, depending on the resources, the ASH (social aid for accommodation) can supplement, but only in an authorized establishment. Applications sometimes take time. It's not very "glamorous" to say, but it's better to look into it before one crisis too many.
In Nice: support points for diagnosis and caregivers
Before, or alongside the search for a facility, it is useful to have a specialized opinion. In Nice, the Memory Resource and Research Center (CMRR) offers screening consultations and guidance. And for relatives, there are support solutions available, because caregiver burnout is a reality. The City of Nice provides a support and respite platform, and the France Alzheimer Alpes-Maritimes association offers listening, information, and local actions.
In summary: look for a place without losing sight of the person.
Choosing a specialized Alzheimer's care home in Nice is rarely a comfortable decision. There's urgency, fatigue, sometimes guilt. But a good facility isn't just an address; it's a team, an organization, and a way of supporting the individual without reducing them to their illness.
Understanding the systems (protected units, day care, specialized Alzheimer's care units), asking concrete questions, comparing, and not overlooking intermediate solutions, is often what allows for a more serene decision-making process. Even when the situation is complicated.
Note: This article provides general information. For medical advice, diagnosis, or an emergency, consult a healthcare professional.