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The dietary of older persons is very important. Meals
were prepared with some assistance by the home help in 48 percent,
of the cases. Fortunately, in only 36 of these would
withdrawal of the home help have resulted in a failure to obtain
any meals.
Housing, Money and Cost.
Twenty-three per cent, of the households were in houses,
36 per cent, in flats and 41 per cent, in rooms in divided accommodation.
In only nine cases were sanitary defects reported.
A more important feature was that in 29 households (7 per cent.)
there was difficulty of access, i.e., the old person was living on
the upper floor of a building and negotiation of the stairs was a
deterrent to going out.
It should be noted that about half had been living in their
present homes for more than 10 years, and 18 per cent, for more
than 30 years. These old associations and obvious affection
for the existing environment complicate the problem of rehousing.
It appears, however, that more could be done with regard to
exchanging accommodation.
In only 15 per cent, of households was there a shortage of
money. For the domestic help service 27 per cent, paid the
charges in full; 7 per cent, made part payment; and in 66 per
cent, of households the cost was borne by public funds.
Conclusion.
The general position of the old people seems to have
improved somewhat since the survey in 1951. Contributory
factors may be better liaison with hospital geriatric departments,
a greater emphasis on rehabilitation, an expansion of the home
help service and closer co-ordination of effort between the
statutory and voluntary agencies.
This progress is gratifying, but a great deal remains to be
done. Rehousing problems are difficult to solve; more longstay
accommodation is required, and there are not enough
clubs, especially for the frail and less mobile. Inertia in the
home has to be combatted and disabilities detected earlythere
is ample evidence that "examinations-in-health" clinics
can fulfil an important function. The home help service is
playing a part which cannot be measured in terms of hours of
work or domestic duties performed —it goes far beyond that,
and no statistical survey can give a complete picture of the
assistance and companionship it provides both during and
after official hours.
In general, however, the survey reaffirms the value,
financial and otherwise, of a domiciliary service for old people,
and suggests ways in which it should be expanded.