René Pavageau, a former school principal, became involved with the Departmental Committee for Retirees and the Elderly (Coderpa) and later with the Loire-Atlantique Departmental-Metropolitan Council for Citizenship and Autonomy (CDMCA)—a body that works in conjunction with the Departmental Council. He was appointed by this organization to represent it on the Regional Conference for Health and Autonomy (CRSA) of the Pays de la Loire.