London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Bermondsey 1958
Annual report of the Medical Officer of Health for the year 1958
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Table I— Age and sex distribution
| Age | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 50—59 | 5 | 7 |
| 60—64 | 8 | 50 |
| 65—69 | 36 | 118 |
| 70—74 | 70 | 152 |
| 75—79 | 67 | 133 |
| 80—89 | 47 | 105 |
| 90+ | 1 | 5 |
| Total | 234 | 570 |
This table shows the preponderance of females at all ages,
especially 65 years and onwards.
Table II— Mobility
| Male | Female | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age | Mobile | Housebound | Bed bound | Mobile | Housebound | Bedbound |
| 50—59 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | – |
| 60—64 | 6 | – | 2 | 44 | 5 | 1 |
| 65—69 | 32 | 2 | 2 | 106 | 11 | 1 |
| 70—74 | 58 | 12 | – | 129 | 19 | 4 |
| 75—79 | 55 | 8 | 4 | 102 | 26 | 5 |
| 80—89 | 34 | 9 | 4 | 61 | 37 | 7 |
| 90+ | 1 | – | – | – | 4 | 1 |
| Total | 188 | 32 | 14 | 446 | 106 | 19 |
While showing the proportionate distribution of homebound
cases, this table gives, for both sexes, some idea of the problem of
growing old, i.e., the range of mobility gradually diminishes and as
it does the patient is gradually cut off more and more from outside
contacts and friends. This increasing isolation is not, however, the
only problem, for arthritis and other disabilities reduce not only the
facility to work but the ability to keep both home and person clean.
Unfortunately, this often gives rise to discouragement and unless
help is forthcoming the pensioner may give up hope, becoming
resentful and antagonistic.
Whereas it would appear that the males do not live long enough
to become housebound, a quarter of the number of women will
inevitably become so.