France home autonomy services face labor and quality challenges

France is implementing reforms to its home autonomy services (SAD) to better support elderly individuals, people with disabilities, and those facing loss of autonomy. These services, which replaced previous models like SAAD, SSIAD, and SPASAD in 2023, aim to provide a single point of entry for care, including meal preparation, housing maintenance, and nursing assistance, while helping to prevent social isolation and elder abuse.

However, the sector faces significant economic and operational challenges. A report from the Cour des comptes highlights concerns regarding service quality and employment stability. High rates of professional wear and tear, including high employee turnover and frequent workplace accidents, threaten the sector's economic model. Data indicates that manual handling accounts for 52% of workplace accidents in this field, with high rates of occupational illnesses such as tendinopathy and carpal tunnel syndrome due to repetitive motions and physical strain.