Caring For The Elderly

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30783, 22 June 1965, Page 2

Caring For The Elderly

Many who lacked knowledge and experience were setting up homes for the elderly, the lady superintendent of the Nurse Maude District Nursing Association (Miss M. E. Rate) told the annual meeting yesterday.

“These people learn as they go along, and I don’t say the elderly folk are not well cared for, but they certainly do not receive assistance for rehabilitation,” she said. A tremendous need for hospital and residential beds existed in Christchurch, particularly accommodation for

people leaving hospital who were well enough to care for themselves.

Speaking on the unique position of the district nurse, Miss Rae said her staff were called upon to go into many homes, the welfare of which rested in their hands.

Much depended on their skill, tact and understanding, for every good nurse was also a teacher, and her example was always before the public. Because of the phenomenal success of last year’s street appeal, which, with the proceeds from the stall and a donation from the Philip Brown fund, raised £3623, the association will not hold an appeal for the next two years. Announcing this, the treasurer (Mr R. G. Compton) said the finance committee did not consider it necessary, in view of the public’s generosity, to hold an appeal every year. The money for last year’s appeal will be divided and used over the next two years. Infectious Diseases

Realisation of the need to isolate patients with infectious diseases had been the

starting point of Nurse Maude’s work. Dr. L. C. L. Averill, chairman of the North Canterbury Hospital Board, told the meeting. Great changes had taken place in medicine since those days when a tubercular patient was sent from hospital to be cared for at home, eventually infecting the whole family.

A longer life expectancy and the population increase had resulted in a great pressure on an already limited quota of hospital beds. Hospitals also provided physiotherapy and occupational therapy services which helped the patient to resume a full life, and the new building plans for Christchurch Hospital would incorporate a fourstorey clinical services block. With the earlier movement of patients in hospital, many of whom felt they might just as well be at home, there was a need for close association between the Nurse Maude Association and the hospitals, Dr. Averill said. Officers elected are:—-Com-mittee, Mrs J. Ferrier, Mr S. E. Mair, Mr T. Smith.