Many retirement homes still have strict health protocols. This includes the wearing of a mask in common areas. The French Society of Geriatrics and Gerontology (SFGG) condemned Monday, arguing for more freedom for the elderly.

Despite the slowdown of the Covid-19 epidemic, "we continue to observe that in too many medicalo-social establishments that barrier measures have not been lifted, leading unjustified deprivations in social life," a press release Nathalie Salles (president of the SFGG) stated. "The nursing home does not function as a hospital, but rather a place where people can meet," recall doctors who specialize in elderly care. They stress that touching, seeing and hugging are fundamental human needs.

The SFGG has asked the government to "update” its most recent health recommendations for elderly institutions. These were issued at the beginning of April. This text, in its most recent version, states that wearing a mask is acceptable inside nursing homes.

Ad-Pa, which is a group of directors of retirement homes/home help structures, protested against the overly strict protocol in mid-May. She had stressed that while the government's rules are "recommendations", the mask is still mandatory in "too many establishments".

"In reality, residents of establishments, their family, and their visitors are always the victims discrimination, compared to other citizens who have access to the most recent measures to ease health measures that exempt all French citizens from wearing a mask. The association was noted.