GOVT’S. INTEREST IN CARE OF AGED AND INFIRM

Grey River Argus, 9 November 1949, Page 3

GOVT’S. INTEREST IN CARE OF AGED AND INFIRM

At last evening’s meeting of the Grey Hospital Board, the secretary Mr W. H. J. Watson, in discussing a letter from the Hospital. Boards’ Association of New Zealand, regarding the care and housing of aged and infirm people, said that there were sections in the vicinity of the hospital to be made available for this purpose. The chairman, Mr J. E. Stokes, said it was part of the board’s job to look after the aged people. Mr H. G. Carter suggested that the board consider a remodelling programme. Mr Stokes said that the Minister of Health was right behind the proposal and the Health Department made every endeavour to see whether elderly people were in respectable living conditions. It was dcided to refer the letter to the sub-committee that had been appointed to have jurisdiction over the Old People’s Home. The Minister of Health, Hon. Miss Mabel Howard, in reply to the Hospital Boards’ Association, ca the matter, Mated. — “I appreciate the desire of the Association for a general directive as to the policy to be adopted in the case of the housing of aged and infirm people. Your executive will appreciate that the problem has several aspects thud must reasonably be attacked in a number of ways. So far as hospital boards are concerned, their main task Is. as I see it, to deal primarily with those who require extended treatment or care of an institutional'nature, whether in a general hospital or an extended treatmen!: hospital. They are concerned, also, with assistance in the home, including district nursing services and social services. The important task of improving residential accommodation largely devolves on the Government, and local authorities in connection with housing construction. Although the Government Js intensifying its efforts to provide adequate housing and this must have its effect in improving the housing conditions of older people, there is a decided need for accommodation of the ■ type which I have had the privilege of instituting at Burnßam. Voluntary bodies in various centres are proceeding on the same line 1 and the Government has, in such cases, indicated its readiness to subsidise the capital cost on a liberal scale (e.g. — 1 one-third of the cost, as a grant and uno-third, if desired, as a loan at current State Advances rate of interest).” The secretary of the Hospital Boards’ Association reported that it had been suggested tbot if the board has specific proposals to make re-g-wdirg the care anT housing of aged ana infirm people, that they be sent to his office when they will be taken up as a whole with the Minister of Health.