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Since 2002, in France, different laws promote the principle of “healthcare democracy” through the recognition of the individual and collective rights of people receiving healthcare services, as they remain citizens. The ethical issues related to the respect of the fundamental rights of the most vulnerable people have been recognized early on by Espaces éthiques. Firstly, through the questions raised by AIDS, then through the specific disorders of people living with neuro-evolutive diseases such as Alzheimer’s, which lead to cognitive disabilities and behavioral disorders that are challenging for the persons concerned, for their relatives and for care staff, whether at home, in a hospital or in a sociomedical establishment. Ill elderly persons are vulnerable people who need volunteers and professionals with strong humanistic values. Given the evolutions of our healthcare system, those volunteers and professionals will have to be more vigilant than ever on the quality and security of health care, and on the respect of people’s choices.