PROBLEM OF CARING FOR THE AGED PEOPLE OF N.Z.

Wanganui Chronicle, 19 April 1949, Page 5

PROBLEM OF CARING FOR THE AGED PEOPLE OF N.Z.

Government Aid And More Tolerant Attitude And Help From Youth

WELLINGTON, Last Night (PA). —Once a standard has been set earing for the community’s old people is a matter for Government or local body control. This opinion was expressed today by the Rev. Harry Squires, Wellington City niissioner, when discussing a. recently published report of the findings of an Auckland committee inquiring into the conditions of old people there. Under that control, Mr. Squires added, every opportunity should be given for those who wished to serve to do so. The churdnes should take a lead in setting the required standard in the work.

Referring to a proposal in the I Auckland report that a co-I ordinating body be set up, Mr Squires said he would welcome a meeting of social service organisations to co-ordinate what is being done to cut out overlap, share ideas and assist 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. “Giving 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, turning to ways of meeting the situation. HOUSING A PROBLEM. One of the main causes of old , people’s plight was housing. If they i are adequately housed they are more contented. The second thing to do was to provide opportunity for a suitable social life. The third was to educate the people to recognise that age is not a disgrace, but should indeed he the best time of life. It could only be. that if younger people worked to make it so. The problem, said Mr. Squires, was to lift to higher and more attractive standard the work already going on. Institutions at the present time might be necessary, but long-range plans should be away from them. The Rev. W. H. Greenslade, Minister of Wesley Methodist Church, Wellington, which is planning an even-1 tide 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 squalor 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 - mens who could not get nursing and other attention, and were so frail that their circumstances were distressing, even though they lived in nice homes. In another class he knew of a man who, as he became old and unable to work, kept very much to himself in one room in Tinakori Road. He became morose and introvert, finally going to the mental Hospital at Porirua. There it was recognised he was not really insane, and was ready to come out whenever normal circumstances be provided for him to live in. At the basis of the problem, Mr Greenslade believed, was a decline in the spirit shown toward social duties and voluntary service. Scores of young people would give effect to theh- sense of responsibility if ‘t were not for problems of Lousing andl obtaining service. He knew of cas ® where 5 those fortunate enough to be able to buy service were paying fan tastic charges to have their aged parents cared for. Many 10,. whom such services could not be afforded were bring in a bleak eventide,, clouded by foreboding insecurity. . THE AGED ARE MULTIPLYING In New Zealand the number of neonle over 60 years of age win ve ’°u?i ns There 6 seven able-bodied folk to support each older person In 1933 there were only mSr. a be d but one affie-bodied person to Tho Ch authoriHes, he said, stated that one-third of those over 60 m New Zealand were physically dependent on others The Government and other agencies might provide excellent material service, but only a Christ an church could give the Christ-like care and comfort so BCce . s , s %>' f " r ace The church should hate the genius of that type of service He considered the Government should subsidise the work, prot ided it reached defined standards. The great aim should be to give old people security with a maximum of incteAn experienced women s social worker in Wellington states that there is a particularly great need in the citv for the care of inval d aged. Lack of delivery services she considered was alone sufficient to m"'‘ e a difference between many elderly women being .".b'e to carry on on their own and their not being able to