In 1987, the geneticist Albert Jacquard wrote: “The gifts that men have given to each other since they became aware of being and that they can still be given in unlimited enrichment, let us designate them by the word humanitude. “

The word “humanitude” was created in 1980 by the Swiss writer Freddy Klopfenstein and then taken up by the humanist geneticist Albert Jacquard (1987). While humanism is a philosophical concept that shows the importance of man’s place in the world, humanitude designates a concept of a rather anthropological nature. It is based on the definition of man as a communicating animal endowed with capacities and having needs specific to the human species.

But it is even more than that, as Albert Jacquard specifies: “It is this treasure of understanding, emotions and above all ethical requirements for ourselves and for others that we have gradually developed with evolution” . We can then extrapolate the need to take it into account in a discipline such as nursing, which has often become routine and to which the concept of humanitude gives meaning. What the French geriatrician, Lucien Mias adopts in 1989.

In 1995, Rosette Marescotti and Yves Gineste, two gymnastics teachers created the “philosophy of humanitude”. Applied to the care of the elderly, whether or not suffering from mental disorders, humanitude is based on a relational approach. The patient is a person who can make their own choices. Attention, listening, emotion, are fundamental values ​​in the encounter between the caregiver and the elderly. Regardless of the weather, the caregiver must adapt to each patient, help them cope with their shortcomings, maximize their well-being, and support them. It is about rehabilitating the elderly in what they possess that is typically human, to promote their self-esteem.

Always, of course, depending on the people, their situation, these 4 pillars must generate bonds of humanitude, that is to say, in particular, good listening and improved care.

• Speech: important in human relations, it must in particular announce and explain each gesture to calm the patient;
• The gaze: when speaking is impossible, for example in cases of dementia, the gaze is another tool of communication, he says, he tells, eye to eye;
• Touch: it’s a way to get in touch. In care, it is important to transform the “utilitarian touch” into a “comfort touch”;
• Verticality: man is bipedal and patients should be avoided bedridden status, verticality not only allows good spatial perception but also promotes good cognitive functioning.

Seniors only get an average of 100 to 120 seconds of talk per day and 10 seconds of stares. And again, it is a question of sweeping gazes which do not fixate but reduce to nothingness. A study was carried out on 111 women aged 67 to 101 years who presented dementia of the Alzheimer type and resided in a hospital for dependent elderly people (EHPAD).

In each case, it was a question of measuring the reactions during the toilet, the most delicate moment, before and after the training of the caregivers in the techniques of humanitude. Result: in 83% of cases, usually difficult care was improved significantly (43% “better”) or very significantly (50% “much better”). While nearly half of the patients kicked, including 23% with a strong or very strong intensity, after the application of the method 65% did not give any more at all.

To publicize the “Humanitude” philosophy and make it known that establishments could work differently today, a Humanitude label was created. The repository includes more than 300 criteria grouped around the 4 pillars of Humanitude. An in-depth study of the repositories, guides, best practice recommendations from ANESM (National Agency for the Assessment and Quality of Social and Medico-Social Institutions and Services) and ANAP (National Support Agency to the Performance of health and medico-social establishments), made it possible to cross-reference the indicators and criteria according to the specific values ​​of Humanitude in order to arrive at the creation of the label. Its evaluation criteria are set out in the reference system in many points concerning all the areas revealing the quality of life and the people received including social life, the quality of life at work for the staff, the capacities of the establishment. to set up projects and modify its organization to better meet the expectations of users and carry out the personalized support project.

Learning the gestures and attitudes that lead to well-treatment makes it possible to fight against the mistreatment of the elderly. The Gineste-Marescottiest treatment methodology consists of 150 techniques resulting from research work for 30 years. This method is offered to nursing staff but also to family carers in training courses through certified institutes around the world (Quebec, Japan, Belgium, etc.). Becoming an approved trainer implies entering a training cycle which takes place over 8 months at the rate of 10 weeks of internships alternating between theory and practice. It is only done in the context of a vacant position.