CARING FOR AGED

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29272, 2 August 1960, Page 17

CARING FOR AGED

“Activity Best Antidote”

Pending scientific prevention of senile degenerative change, the best antidotes to the ageing continued to be mental and physical activity, according to the annual report of the Christchurch Aged People’s Welfare Council, presented to the annual meeting last evening.

The experimental work of the council in this occupational field was being watched with interest by other centres, said the report. The service now gave weekly instruction to more than 100 occupants of seven separate residential homes as well as to an additional 78 elderly persons who lived on their own.

With the approval of the Health Department a change in policy and staffing had been effected, which might well prove of farreaching significance, said the report. In future the council would cease to employ trained occupational, therapists, because its main interest would be to provide diversion and interest rather than to treat physical defects, the report said. In this way it yras hoped to move progressively into the larger field of group employment, leaving the more limited “therapy” and the more limited supply of trained therapists to the hospital board. To promote companionship greater efforts would be made to enable the isolated “oldster” to attend weekly classes at the council’s new occupational centre adjoining Langford House. With the same objective, as many of these old persons as possible were now conveyed to the monthly parties at the various residential homes. The last one, at Windsor House, was attended by more than 200 residents and guests. The council had requested that Government funds be made available to defray the capital costs of providing pensioners’ club rooms, and the central advisory committee had appointed a sub-commit-tee to inquire and recommend, said the report.