Alzheimer's care / Disabilities

This is included among the affections de longue durée which entitle the sufferer to 100% cover under the French social security system for all associated medical costs.

There are more than 6,000 homes which are equipped to house people with Alzheimer's throughout France, including the cantou care homes (see here). For those with concerns, the first port of call is their GP, though a diagnosis may take two years from the first appearance of signs.

As with other disabilities, APA may help sufferers stay in their own home. Maisons Départementales des Personnes Handicapées, linked to the departmental council are a key contact for queries about benefit.

An ‘Alzheimer village’ opened at Dax, Landes in 2020. It is funded by the department and state and the idea may be adopted elsewhere. Applications to live at the wooded five-hectare site can be made via a website. 

The France Alzheimer association meanwhile wants more to be spent on ensuring access to high quality respite care for people who are living at home.

Respite facilities give carers a break and offer the sufferer a change and, often, access to stimulating activities like games and walks. Places exist for day care or for stays of a week or two but availability varies and there may be waiting lists.

When someone is diagnosed a visit by a specialist medical team may be arranged which can include an occupational therapist and a nurse who will help the sufferer and their family adapt.

At home an Alzheimer’s sufferer may have the right to a nurse to help administer medication or an auxiliary for daily tasks such as washing, dressing, mealtime help, housework, shopping and activities outside the home such as trips to the doctors and administrative visits.

France Alzheimer which has branches across France, offers advice as organising activities and social events to help sufferers and families and providing training for those in caring roles with a sufferer.

Local groups organise cafés mémoire [to share coffee and a chat], cookery and well-being sessions, workshops with art and music therapists, respite care from half-days to several days, and even holidays. 

They are not just for sufferers but also for family and friends. They can talk to carers about difficulties and can help to put people in contact with the right doctors and social services.

An English-speaking group in south Dordogne used to meet regularly in Eymet but has not resumed after halting during the Covid pandemic. One of the organisers, Alex Hewitt-Jones said, however people can contact him for email or phone support (06 06 46 24 94 and francealzheimerdordogneenglish@gmail.com).

Association France Alzheimer has wide-ranging support and is always happy to help.

Help for people with disabilities

Aside from French benefits that may assist the elderly and dependent, there are various others aimed at the disabled, although some are only due if you are still of working age.

In the case of Britons who retired to France, you may find that a UK benefit is ‘exportable’ or claimable for the first time from outside the UK.

However you should not accumulate similar benefits from both the UK and France.

Continued 'exportability' of UK benefits was secured for 'Withdrawal Agreement' Britons (those living in France before the end of the Brexit transition period - December 31, 2020 - or close family joining them afterwards) but is more limited for those coming later.

The following are exportable for WA Britons under set conditions (eg. based on your UK National Insurance contribution levels, or on you being a UK state pensioner): Disability Living Allowance (not the mobility component) and Personal Independence Payment, Attendance Allowance and Carer’s Allowance.

DLA helps disabled people with care costs and is replaced by Attendance Allowance for the over-65s, whereas Carer’s Allowance may be payable if you have a family member who looks after you. 

You may be able to claim these for the first time while living in France even if you did not do so in the UK, either if you moved to France only recently or if you can demonstrate a “genuine, sufficient link with the UK social security system” such as a long period of UK residence paying National Insurance.

Note, however, that if claiming from abroad for the first time, DLA has been replaced by PIP (Personal Independence Payment).

For disabled WA Britons who are not yet of UK state pension age, the Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) – former long-term incapacity benefit may also be exportable.

Non-WA Britons may export ESA for a limited period under certain circumstances and may export Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit.

In France, aside from the APA autonomy benefit, there are several other disability benefits, but they may not apply to you if you are of state pension age. 

For example, Prestation de compensation du handicap (PCH) is an autonomy benefit for those whose handicap started before the age of 60. People who are claiming PCH and become eligible for APA need to request a switch if the latter is more beneficial.

A pension d’invalidité is equivalent to ESA, for those under state pension age who have worked and paid social security contributions (including the self-employed) but now have limited or no ability to work owing to disability. The level paid varies by what you earned and paid in.

Allocation aux adultes handicapés (AAH) gives a minimum income for the disabled but it cannot be combined with an old age pension or pension d’invalidité unless they are smaller than the amount of benefit you could receive.

A Maison Départementale des Personnes Handicapées (MDPH) can help you work out your entitlements.

Disabled cards

There is only one card for disabled people, which may have one or more different mentions (labels) depending on entitlements: the Carte mobilité inclusion (CMI)

The mention ‘stationnement pour personnes handicapées’ is for those with mobility problems, for use of disabled parking spaces. It replaces the Carte européenne de stationnement, but old cards are valid until expiry or the end of 2026.

The mention ‘priorité pour personnes handicapées’ is for people with a disability level of less than 80%, but who are uncomfortable standing. It allows for priority seating in transport, waiting rooms and public areas, and allows you to go to the front of a queue.

The ‘invalidité’ mention is for people assessed at at least 80% invalidity and is similar but also allows the same rights to a person accompanying you.

The CMI can also be used as proof for various other advantages concerning tax, concessionary rates etc. You can obtain one on application to the local maison départementale des personnes handicapées (MDPH).