Message from Yves Journel FOUNDER OF THE DOMUSVI GROUP Forty-four years ago, after starting my In our profession, shared humanity is above all a Chairman of the Supervisory and Strategic professional career in maternity ward requirement, enabling families to play an active Guidance Board (representing SAGESSE) management, I decided to commit myself role in caring for their elderly relatives. to creating and managing homes for elderly people. At the dawn of the 1980s, I had the That is why I am extremely proud that DomusVi intuition that there was an emerging society is the first provider of care for vulnerable elderly challenge. With the rapid increase in life people to create and develop, in echofthea expectancy, our societies were going to face countries in which it operates, a National Family the first wave of elderly people in the history Council responsible for establishing ongoing of humanity. dialogue between our professionals and family representatives. When I was born, people over the ageof 75 years old represented less than 4% of Creating and maintaining a National Family the population; today, 75 years later, Council is a voluntary and delicate undertaking. they represent 11%. This trend is continuing It is also a step towards a desirable future for rapidly: in 2030, people over 75 will account our seniors and our societies: allowing families for more than 12% of the population, rising to to play their rightful role in the lives of their 13.5% in 2035 and 14.5% in 2040. Faced with elders will contribute to the long-term balance this growth, it is crucial that our civil societies of our ageing societies. organise themselves; itis essential that families The family must remain at the heart of our participate in this organization as key players expertise, and while caring for the most in the well-being of our seniors. It is not up to vulnerable is a highlydemanding professional the State to compensate for a perceived lack of and human skill, it is essential that it is families, nor to take care of the most vulnerable understood by families and developed seniors, nor to control the quality of services. with them. This responsibility falls to all of us, professionals in the care of the elderly and the families of our seniors. 6 7 4202 TROPER YTILIBANIATSUSRAEY EHT TA KCAB KOOL A