‘Elderly theme’ for soap operas

Press, 23 May 1977, Page 13

‘Elderly theme’ for soap operas

Television soap operas were one way in which negative community attitudes to the problems of old age could be changed, it was suggested in Christchurch. Miss J. Page, a social wor[ker from Perth, told the conference on gerontology and medicine in old age that all sections of the community 'needed better informatoin I about what sort of help could be provided for the elderly. “In the past, the concentration has been on dreary pamphlets, which are seldom seen by the people who need them as thev are not placed in post offices and pubs where people move through frequently,’’ she said.

> One of the most imagina- > tive ways of trj’ing to give > better information to the pub- > lie would be to incorporate i a story of problems faced by the elderly in the script of - television soap operas. “It is no use sitting back 1 and waiting for the television 1 people to approach those who r work with geriatric services, i It is up to these services to 1 approach those producing the television programmes,” said ■ Miss Page. i “I am sure that the popular i British radio programme j about a farming family was ! not the 8.8.C.’s idea, but pushed for by the ! Ministry of Agriculture.”