Finding physiotherapy for the elderly in Paris, France?

August 29, 2013 4:03 PM

I have an ageing relative who lives in Paris, France. He is highly functional and cognitively intact, but he has lost a lost of muscle mass in his legs and has fallen twice in the last year. How can I find a physiotherapist for the elderly in Paris? More beneath the fold.

He's still really independent, but I fear that one day he will fall and break his hip. He is motivated, and I really think he'd benefit from some physiotherapy. Here in North America, things like fall prevention classes, balance exercises, etc are widely available.

Where and how can I go about finding these services in France? Does it have a different name? My French is quite functional, and I am willing to pay out of pocket.

posted by anonymous to Health & Fitness (3 answers total)

My first step would be to call the English-speaking hotline for ameli, which is a one-stop service for questions about the health care system. Normally I would suggest going directly to their find-a-doctor (here) but they do not seem to have it as a choice of service. The word you are looking for is physiotherapeute.

If he has already a trusted doctor in Paris, remember to ask that doctor. My doctor has referred me to a couple specialists, and both have turned out to be fantastic. The other path is Google. I've also found a doctor here that way and it went fine.
posted by whatzit at 10:07 PM on August 29, 2013

Your relative needs to see their médecin généraliste, who will then evaluate their needs as they can, and refer them to a physical therapist, who will look into their needs in more detail, and tailor a treatment plan.

Any costs will be either fully reimbursed, or they'll have a few euros out of pocket. It's best to go through a GP since this ensures that the care will be appropriate, through a qualified physiotherapist, and thus reimbursed at the best rates. (It's kind of a long story; if you don't go through your GP, the French system may make you pay more for non-urgent care. It all depends, which is why I'm not going into detail and just recommending the GP as a first step.)
posted by fraula at 1:08 AM on August 30, 2013

Yes, your relative should check with their doctor. The word in France is "Kinésithérapie". I visited a few, but was not satisfied (they worked very differently to physios I'd seen in Australia) but that doesn't mean there aren't good ones around. I ended up visiting a Grinberg practitioner who really helped me strengthen my body. I may also know someone you could talk to here, if you'd like to memail me.
posted by bwonder2 at 5:18 AM on August 30, 2013