THE AGED AND THE SICK.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 205, 27 August 1912, Page 2

THE AGED AND THE SICK.

rWO WORTHY INSTITUTIONS. 3OSTLEY AND ALEXANDRA HOMES. A VISIT OF INSPECTION^ -After* visiting .- the '. Costley. Home for ;he Aged at Epsom and the Alexandra lome for Convalescent Women at Ellersie, yesterday, in company with the maniger of the Auckland Hospital (Captain E. J. Thomas), and by the courtesy of ;he chairman of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board (Mr. H. Schofield), a representative of the "Star" is able to •eport ''All well" at both places. To the 3redit of these institutions, be ■ it said ;hat neither of them appear to have been responsible in the slightest degree for my recent friction in connection with hospital administration in Auckland. Furthermore they seem , to be running their allotted courses of utility as though on oiled wheels, and recognition of the fact ie due to the officials responsible. THE-COSTLEY- HOME. " j Nestling at the foot of -historic Maungakiekie (One-tree Hill), flanked by the picturesque olive grove on the immediate slopes, and faced by the expansive fields of Cornwall Park, the situation of the f-ostley Home is at once picturesque and healthful. From the balcony of the main, building on a sunny day such as ypsterlay an excellent view is obtained of the idjacent agricultural show grounds, .vhieli is the frequent scene of football and :rotting-match revelry. Thus the 240 inmates are confined to no lonely portion )f the planet, and they are allowed whativer liberty their strength and health enible them to embrace. It is a noble charity this established work of brightening lives in their declining ■ stages, and no greater testimony of the fact could be lesired; thstn the" bright Smiles which toturn to some of those wrinkled faces as ievout thanks are expressed for what they have received. Of -course, there are instances of "crabbed old age" as well, jut, happily, they are the exceptions. All are the better for participation in the broad "benevolence showered upon them. BIRTH OF THE SCHEME. As old residents of Auckland well know, this home was founded with a nucleus of £12.000 bequeathed by the late Mr. Edward Costley at his death in 1883. Then the main building—the only double storey building in the colony of brick structures now forming the home was built upon the 10 acres of land purchased out of the bequest, its object being to replace the home for aged men theii located in the District Hospital grounds. About six ears ago a spacious infirmary ward was added by the Board out of the public funds entrusted to its administration, while Borne six months ago there were opened two additional buildings a nurses' home built in tiro same way and a home for aged couples erected out of moneys bequeathed by the late Mr. Robert Goddard (formerly an inmate of the institution), and the late Mrs. Ann Gamble, The home is financed entirely by the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board out of public funds. ' THE PRINCIPAL BENEFACTOR. Just inside the main entrance to the Symonds Street cemetery, on the eastern side, stands the monument erected to the late Edward Costley. "He was eminently successful throughout a long life. in business pursuits," the inscription read "and, living temperately and unostentatiously, amassed considerable wealth which he bequeathed equally among seven public and charitable institutionsthe Auckland Hospital and the Old People's Refuge, the Parnell Orphans' Home and the Auckland Institute, the Auckland Public Free Library, the Training School at Koliimara-ma. and the Sailors' Home— thus relieving by his munificent bequests the sick, destitute and infirm, the homeless and the orphans, and aiding to establish homes for the homeless, to advance science, and to spread a taste for literature among , all classes." Many an ebbing life has surely lingered to bloss the instigator of these good works! 'HOW THE miATES LIVE. Go to the home on any chance day, and if it be fine there .-will be found signs of ripened life in all parts of the grounds and- building. Phould rainy or cold conditions prevail the inmates, will ■be -discovered in all manner '• of snug places—quite a number in bed. others around cheerful firesides, and some in •the place from which they seldom stir, namely, the infirmary ward. This latter is for mole inmates, whose number is far in excess of the female residents —the proportion is 100 to GO. Even on a fine day a large number -were 'found indoors. Passing . through the - •women's

iwurd* — airy,;-well lighted, and set oat similarly to hospital wards —it •was seen that nuCrrv- of the elderly dames derived their afternoon comfort from their beds, either from within the sheets and blankets or from lounging 'without. Several were knitting or sewing away contentedly, and others were reading. A parallel ' instance - -woe-observed in the men's wards.' "We allow them to He down as their comfort dictates;" remarked' the worthy superintendent (Di McElvey). "A conple of hoars each day," he added, " beips •wonderfully to lengthen their lives." From general .observation this remark would seen to fittingly epitomise the gospel of the institution: not only the brightening oft lives, hut the lengthening of -them ia part of its mission. One oarioaß fact was noted in the •men's words, namely, the antipathy of the inmates to draughts. "Open some of the windows," quietly directed Dr-McElvey, in passing, and immediately haK-a-dozcn vohrnteers stepped forward to comply. " "Ehoy are not as fond otf Afresh air as they might be," observed Hie doctor. The infirmary would do credit to any modern hospital, so up-to-date are its appointments and so "bright its lurnishingß. There are artificial heaters, and the- 30 or .so hoary patients lie in comfort, peacefully awaiting the- going 'out of the tide. Outside on the verandahs some scores of aged men were seen basking and reading in the sun. A TOUCH 01? PATHOS. It "was in passing the consumptives' shelters attached to the institution for the benefit of cases which should not remain longer in the District- Hospital, that a pathetic sight was witnessed. Inside the women's shelter there was. only one patient, but she appeared far spent [Mid her friends feared that her end wsb nigh. On one side of the bed knelt a Salvation Army lassie, and on the otter a. male "Army" officer. A pale, -wasted face upon the pillow, and two thin bands, .clasped above the .counterpane, indicated that a traveller was setting out on that last long Journey. The patient had been a Salvationist herself, and the doctor -was restrained to remark that She faced death heroically Among th« few male patients it "was learned that their progress 'had been excellent. Dγ McElvey devotes a great deal of care to the consumptives. HOME FOR AGED COUPLES. Tsio home for married couples is a happy addition to the institution, and those who have been located there during the first six months of its existence ire, apparently, quite happy in the thought of being ro-united. There is accommodation for six couples, each pail being provided with a. nicely-furnished double bedroom, while a general sitting room, bath rooms, etc., complete the touches necessary to make.them f.ed in " home, sweet home." One olf the male inmates came in to the Coetley Home committee (Messrs Schofield, Potter, Dye and Jenkin) during their visit the other day, and handed over a few pounds, representing the whole of his worldly possessions: he had saved th« jinn out of presents sent him from time to time by an American gentleman who had employed him as servant in the years gone by. " You have given th« wife and mc as comfortable a home as w<: could -wish for," he said, " and the only desire remaining is that we shall be buried decently. Please take this money to carry out our last request -when the time comes." An incident much less pathetic was also heard of. A "gay bachelor" of th« establishment, aged 84 years, applied tc the committee for permission" to marrj his fiancee, a woman aged 45, admitted on account of partial paralysis. Plain]} enough they wanted to qualify foi rooms in the married couples' home The committee wisely said nay, and straightway adopted a rule requiring that candidates for the home must bt over 65 years of ape and have been mar ried for "at least ten years. One or twe further instances of an arousing nature were also re-counted in connection with the same home- The couples now then live most amicably together. SUCCESS OF THE MANAGEMENT. In the management of the institution Dr. McElv.ey (whose duties also extend to the Charitable Aid Board dispensary in Auckland each day) has the assistance of a capable assistant in Mr. McLeod. There arc seven nurses, and theii new home is in keeping with their proficiency. Its rooms are like those of the new nurses' home at the District Hospital* and among the furnishings of the sitting room is. a well-toned piano. Tlieii lives pass pleasantly as well as those ol the patients. ■ LEISURE BEFORE WORK. An important adjunct of the institution is the steam laundry. This is the one department in which work ia extracted from a few of the more able-bod ied inmates..' It Is very light, and thej arc made monetary allowances. Peopk who think that the inmates as a ♦.hoh are made to work are much mistaken " They are not sufficiently robust loi that," observed Dr. McElvey. The laundry, by the way, deals with the District Hospital washing as well as its own, aac in this way derives some revenue for its upkeep. There are vegetable gardens but the staff attend to them, as they dc also to the lawns, flower borders, etc Those are being greatly improved. A bowling green has been laid in front o] the main building, and, although souk of the male inmates exhibit great skit with the bowbs when having a quiet toss up unobserved, they resolutely refuse tc take part in matches. There are man} other ways, too, in which thoughtfu provision is made with the object of ton ing down the shadows of their advancing years. ' THE ALEXANDRA HOME. When, live or six years ago, Mr. ant Mrs W. H. [Smith, of Auckland, purchaser and furnished the large two-storeyet house standing on an eminence past tin eastern end of the Ellerslie racecourse for the purpose of donating it to th< Hospital and Charitable Aid Board to be run as a home for convalescent women the gift was regarded as a. very fine one Since it has proved so distinctly success ful, and has been the means of encour aging the return of blooming health t( many women, both young and old, tin gift must be even more highly thought of. "My time will be up next week,' remarked one of the lifteen inmates t( Captain Thomas. " Will you bo glad tt get away?" the latter asked. "Oh, no," was the reply, "it's so delightful ou , here that one can't help feeling better.' This conversation took place on a veran dah surrounded by a charming gardei with daffodils, jonquils, eanieliaß, am other winter flowers shedding fragranci around. The remainder of the eon valescents were also out and about Their testimony to the comfort and hap piness of the ..homo were equally con vine ing. The institution comes directly un der the control of the District Hospita management, and nurses are sent out ou< at a time to toko charge. Dr. Murray ii the visiting physician. These terms q country residence are much relished, bj both patients sod nurses.