SURVEY OF OLD PEOPLE

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27586, 17 February 1955, Page 14

SURVEY OF OLD PEOPLE

PREFERENCES IN HOUSING MOST FAVOUR KEEPING OWN HOMES (New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, February 16. Nine of every 10 old persons in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch prefer not to go into an old people’s home or flat. This is one conclusion reached in a survey released today by the Minister of Health (Mr J. R. Hanan). Students of the Victoria University College School of Social Science made the survey of old people in Auckland in 1952, in Wellington in 1951, and in Christchurch in 1953. Results from a 1954 survey in Dunedin are not to hand. In Auckland, Professor D. C. Marsh’s students interviewed 905 of a random sample of 1247 persons over 65, or 10 per cent, of age benefit and universal superannuation recipients in Auckland city and Newmarket borough. The survey says that 54 per cent, of the old-age group in the three centres at the 1951 census were women. In Auckland, 52 per cent, of old people thought old people should live m private houses; in Wellington, 43 per cent.; in Christchurch, 58 per cent. Only 13 per cent, in Auckland, 25 per cent, in Wellington, and 17 per cent in Christchurch thought they should hye m specially-built homes or flats. Flats generally were popular with fewer than 20 per cent. Total percentages living with persons responsible for their welfare were:—-Auckland, 61 per cent; Wellington, 85 per cent.; Christchurch, 75 per cent. About twice as many women as men lived alone. Family Responsibilities The survey claims that “the oftrepeated statement that members of the: family’ are not accepting responsibility for the old people is greatly exaggerated.” Sixty per cent, or more of dwellings occupied by old people in the three cities were in good repair, and about 30 per cent, in a “fair state.” Those in bad condition amounted to 7 per cent, in Auckland, 10 per Cent, in Wellington, and 6 per cent, in Christchurch. In Auckland, 30 per cent, of old people, m Wellington 32 per cent., and in Christchurch 45 per cent, thought old people’s homes should be run by church organisations. But 57 per cent in Auckland, 32 per cent, in Wellington, and 16 per cent, in Christchurch run'them 16 tate or loeal bodies should In Auckland, 41 per cent, of old People, in Wellington 81 per cent., and m Christchurch 46 per cent, had heard ot . Derby and Joan” clubs, but would not like to join them. In the three cities respectively, 35, 5, and 40 per cent, had never heard of the clubs, and only about 10 per cent, of all the old people had heard of them and wanted lo join them. In Auckland and Christchurch, 14 percent of the old people, and in Wellington 12 per cent., were still working.