CARE OF AGED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27059, 19 April 1949, Page 4

CARE OF AGED

IMPORTANT PROBLEM POSITION IN CAPITAL SOCIAL WORKERS’ VIEWS PA WELLINGTON. Apl. 18. Once a standard had been set, caring for the community’s old people is a matter for the Government or local body control. This opinion was expressed to-day by the Rev. Harry Squires, Wellington city missioner. when discussing the recently-pub-lished report otf the findings of the Auckland committee inquiring into the conditions of old people there. Under that control, every opportunity should be given for those who wished to serve to do so. The churches should take the lead in setting the required standard in the work.

Referring to the proposal in the Auckland report that a co-ordinating body should be set up, Mr Squires said he would welcome a meeting of social service organisations to coordinate what was being done to cut out overlap, share ideas and assist the approaching of “ this rather important problem ” as a community effort. The co-ordinating committee should not, however, directly control the work of the various organisations. “ Not Wa,y to Heaven ”

“ Giving the old folk a few pounds does not automatically open the way to heaven for them, and it might even do the opposite,” said the missioner. One of the main causes of the old people’s plight was housing. If they were adequately’ housed, they would be more contented. The second thing to do was to provide an opportunity for suitable social life. The third was to educate people to recognise that age was not a disgrace, but should indeed be the best time of life. It could only be that if the younger people worked to make it so.

The problem, said Mr Squires, was to lift to a higher and more attractive standard the work already .going on. Institutions at the present t|ne might be necessary, but long range plans should be away from them.

The Rev. W. H. Greenslade, minister of Wesley Methodist Church, Wellington, whieh is planning an eventide settlement in the Hutt Valley, said he considered the plight of the aged in Wellington quite as bad as in Auckland. The Auckland press report spoke of several thousand old people there living in “ appalling conditions of squatlor and misery.” The trouble as he had seen it was in some cases not so much poverty as inability to get nursing service or attention of any kind, and in others lack of normal social environment and companionship. He knew of folk of independent means who could not get nursing or other attention and were so frail that their circumstances were distressing, even though they lived in nice homes. Housing Difficulties

Mr Greenslade said he believed the basis of the problem was the decline in spirit shown toward social duties and voluntary service. Scores of young people would give effect to their sense of responsibility if it were not for the problems of housing and obtaining service. He knew of cases where those fortunate enough to be able to buy service were paying fantastic charges 1;o have their aged parents cared for. Many for whom such’ services could not be afforded were living in a bleak eventide clouded by a foreboding of insecurity.

“In New Zealand the number of people over 60 years of age will be doubled in the next 30 years,” he said, “and a ftasation similar to that developing in the United States may result. There, in 1905, there were seven able-bodied' folk to support each older person. In 1935 there were only four, and by the year 2000 there may be but one able-bodied person to each older one.” The authorities, he said, stated that one-third of those over 60 in New Zealand were physically dependent on others. The Government and other agencies might provide an excellent material service but only the Christian Church could give Christlike care and comfort so necessary for old age. The Church should have a genius for that type of service. He considered the Government should subsidise the work provided it reached defined standards. The great aim should be to give old people security with a maximum of independence. An experienced women’s social worker in Wellington stated that there was a particularly great need in the city for the care of the invalid aged The of delivery services she considered alone were sufficient to make the difference between many elderly women being able to carry on on their own and not being able to do so.