South of Toulouse, the largest medical center in Occitanie wants to take up the challenge of progressive diseases
The largest medical center in Occitanie for the care of patients with neuro-progressive diseases (Parkinson, MS, Charcot, etc.) has opened in Rieux-Volvestre in Haute-Garonne.
Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (better known as Charcot’s and Huntington’s disease); these neuro-evolutionary diseases respectively affect 150,000, 80,000 and 8,000 people in France according to the Institut du Cerveau. But there are few or no treatments. “During the first phase of multiple sclerosis, which alternates flare-ups and remissions, patients react well to immunomodulatory treatments; but the disease then ends up progressing inexorably in a degenerative way”, describes Professor Michel Clanet, neurologist, specialist in neuro-evolutionary diseases and among the initiators of the Mas Azuré project with the ASEI association. “This is why we are developing here a global medical project that takes into account the multiple deficiencies linked to these diseases”.
Self-hypnosis and the “magic table”
This translates into the presence of various support care specialists (occupational therapists, physiotherapists, psychologists, psychomotor therapists, nutritionists) as well as nurses, caregivers, pharmacists and two doctors; all in an environment suitable for people with severe disabilities. “Our medical project takes into account the skills of primary functions such as food: a key point in preventing swallowing disorders”, describes Germain Huc, one of the two general practitioners present full-time in the establishment. They can cause aspiration and major lower lung infections. A nutritionist therefore adapts the textures of the diet and monitors the residents’ digestive and urinary problems”. Occupational therapists and physiotherapists do prevention so that patients maintain the right gestures. Self-hypnosis sessions are offered to relieve widespread chronic pain. Finally, a magic table, “tovertafel”, helps to maintain or regain mobility.
The Mas Azuré results from the merger of two old centers which have closed their doors (Sana and Rieux-Volvestre) and currently welcomes 64 patients like Véronique Fontaine, 50, suffering from multiple sclerosis. “I have been living in a specialized establishment since 2019 and I moved here in June. It’s day and night with what I knew before, she says. I do a lot of very new things, yesterday was a smoothie workshop in the therapeutic kitchen with the nutritionist”.
Unlike hospitals or some Ehpad (Accommodation establishment for dependent elderly people), the atmosphere is that of a place to live. The wings of the building have been named “districts” in connection with art, a theme chosen by the patients (hip-hop district, graffiti, comics, comics, 7th art) and the shared spaces designed as a village square.
14 temporary reception places
Alongside permanent accommodation, the establishment has fourteen temporary accommodation places for stays of one to three months. “We are thinking of therapeutic education for patients who still live at home to delay the frequent positioning problems in these diseases, and then this also allows respite stays for caregivers, describes Dr. Huc. We are thus fully in line with the roadmap of the national plan for neuro-evolutionary diseases. »
Due to a lack of sufficient nursing staff (50% of the nursing staff, missing), the Mas Azuré is not yet running at full speed. It should eventually accommodate 94 patients.