REST HOMES FOR MOTHERS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27450, 25 July 1950, Page 2

REST HOMES FOR MOTHERS

NOTES FOR WOMEN

New Social Experiments In England Rehabilitation is a word which has come into general use since the war. It was first applied to wounded or battle-exhausted soldiers in describing methods, neither purely hospital nor convalescent home, which were designed to restore the soldiers’ capacity and his confidence. Later it was applied to the treatment of injured workers and apparently chronic invalids. Now it is being increasingly used to describe methods of restoring a work-worn mother, tired out and unable to manage her children, who is in a vicious circle where ill-health, apathy, bad management, and bad family behaviour constantly create fresh problems .

Some of the rehabilitation centres in England, such as Roffey Park, have taken in a certain proportion of housewives amongst their visitors, but one of the most outstanding in this work is “Brentwood,” a house in the North of England. “ Brentwood ” aims at fulfilling a need which is only just beginning to be recognised—the problem of rest and a helping hand for the lower income mother and her children.

During the year, for periods of never less than three weeks and preferably from four to six weeks, mothers with children between the ages of one month and seven years are received. The aims of this residence at “ Brentwood,” writes Christine Moffatt, in the Social Service Quarterly, are fourfold:—

First, to provide physical rehabilitation for the exhausted, frequently poorly fed and always mentally weary mother, where she can be rid for most of the day of the constant demands of her young children. Secondly, as a legacy from the war years, to provide rehabilitation in its fullest sense by means of spiritual refreshment and a good environment. Thus the neurotic mother, and the mother whose standards are of “ problem family ” level are all welcome. Thirdly, to provide education in housewifery, child care, etc., for mothers, and training for the children in good social habits. Fourthly, the imparting of a higher social standard by example and the insidious influence of a good environment. , , The first aim of rest is secured by the separation of the children, aged one year to seven years, from their mothers from breakfast time to bed-

time in a well-run nursery. Babies under 1-year-old are left with their mothers. Positive health for the mothers is sought by good food, walks in the fresh air, leisure and entertainment, and small ailments are looked into by the local doctor. The training in “housewifery” and child care is indirect and tactful; the warden helps, but, in the household tasks of cleaning their own rooms, and doing the washing up the more efficient women give their own example to the shiftless. In child care the mqthers tend to take the nursery supervisor as their example and to note the regular time table for the children’s needs. Group activities also help greatly; a cookery demonstrator shows sensible recipes in the kitcen; and a sewing instructor visits the informal make-and-mend evenings. “ Brentwood ” does not claim for itself that it makes a major revolution in the lives of the women who visit there. It is felt that there is not always sufficient contact with the husbands to ensure this. Yet the enormous number of applications does indicate that it is supplying a need in postwar England. .Social agencies send cases and contribute a certain amount of financial support but it is largely dependant on voluntary subscriptions. Its work was recently supported by Lord Beveridge, who, in his broadcast appeals, said: “I could tell you any number of true stories of families—of Mrs Smith and Mrs Jones and McGregor—coming to ‘ Brentwood,’ each with her children and her problems which then seemed hopeless, going back a changed woman with new hope and understanding to try again.”