Le Cantou is the acronym used to refer to the "Centre for natural activities drawn from useful occupations". It designates small units originally intended to care for dependent elderly people who show symptoms of dementia, and more today those suffering from Alzheimer's disease. Created in France at the end of the 1970s, the Cantou are better known today as “protected living units” or “Alzheimer units”.
A center for natural activities drawn from useful occupations (Cantou) aims to accommodate mainly dependent elderly people who suffer from Alzheimer's disease. A term of Occitan origin, Cantou means "by the fireside" because, originally, these centers were created for seniors who can no longer stay at home due to their state of disorientation due to their dementia while recreating a safe, warm environment, which preserves their autonomy as much as possible by involving residents as much as possible in the tasks of daily life (dishes, washing, peeling vegetables, etc.), as if they were still at home.
The Cantou also gives an important place to the relatives of the elderly people it welcomes, who are often lost and helpless in the face of the symptoms caused by Alzheimer's disease. They are involved in the operation of these centers by participating in particular in monthly meetings during which their opinion, questions, proposals, etc., are taken into account to make the lives of their loved ones as pleasant as possible.
Originally, the Cantou were more fully-fledged, autonomous establishments. Today, these centers called “Alzheimer Protected Units” are most often integrated into structures such as nursing homes and retirement homes.
The elderly people welcomed in the Cantou have in fact most often integrated beforehand an Ehpad or a retirement home. But the particularity of their state of health requires that they be cared for in specialized units which have staff (nursing assistants, medico-psychological assistants, art therapists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, psychomotor therapists, etc.) trained and qualified in the treatment of symptoms of dementia and Alzheimer's disease, as well as specific equipment intended to monitor and secure the lives of residents.
A Cantou generally accommodates an average of 18 to 20 residents with cognitive disorders who have a single room where a familiar environment is recreated. They are therefore reception structures on a human scale. Seniors also benefit from common areas.
The elderly are received directly in a Cantou (or after a stay in a retirement home) when they can no longer stay at home due to behavioral problems (aggressiveness, agitation, shouting, etc.), or else in the event of proven risk of running away, for example.
One of the main characteristics of the Cantou is to offer individualized support for the people they welcome, support provided by a healthcare team specializing in the care of seniors with cognitive disorders.
Residents thus benefit from psychological, linguistic, etc., and social stimulation, since the other interest of a Cantou is to preserve their autonomy as much as possible by involving them in acts of daily life, for example.
The Cantou also offer activities to their residents directly related to the difficulties encountered by Alzheimer's patients or other cognitive problems. These can be workshops around themes such as eating disorders, states of anxiety, agitation, or even loss of self-esteem. These events allow the elderly to enjoy activities that (re)give them the pleasure of living, to regain self-confidence, etc.
On the other hand, a Cantou aims to offer medical care, or even non-drug therapies, individualized to each resident.
