Born in 2020-2021 amidst heightened social isolation for seniors, the association Le Juste Prix La Madeleine aims to maintain connection and activity within the La Madeleine residence in Apt. Initially focused on establishing a self-service and then a mobile grocery store for residents, the association has broadened its mission to creating life within the facility and reintegrating seniors into their environment.
The association's philosophy is to view La Madeleine as a true living space where each resident can play an active role. Residents are involved in decisions and numerous activities alongside volunteers and professionals. Creative workshops, whose creations are sold to fund the association's projects, exemplify this participatory approach.
La Madeleine is gradually opening up to the outside to become a third place. The association is multiplying partnerships: with the Conservatoire de musique d'Apt for a choir, with childcare assistants from the Pays d'Apt for intergenerational meetings, with the Foyer Rustin for festive events like the 'Red Carpet', and with the media library and toy library for reading sessions and games.
'The life we have today, we owe in large part to our elders,' recalls Paméla Lombard, the association's manager. This initiative seeks to value the residents' journeys and experiences, changing perceptions of aging and affirming that it is possible to continue learning, sharing, creating, and participating.
Collective life relies on the work of social animators, volunteers, and families, who are also invited to participate in activities. The project aims to place residents at the heart of their citizenship, making them active participants in their living space. To fund its activities, the association relies on its own fundraising efforts, support from the Hôpital d'Apt, annual memberships (10 euros), and donations.
