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105
What, then, are the problems of old age and how is one to
handle them? What can be done for those who begin to fail
physically and mentally with advancing years?
If we should consider these questions merely a facile academic
exercise in terms of apportioning public or private social responsibility
we would be doing them less than justice. Such human
problems warrant a deeper and more compassionate analysis for
there is no glamour or enchantment in ministering to the aged.
Much of this kind of service is menial, demanding and frustrating
in that it seldom leads to a completely satisfactory outcome.
Doubtless it is this truth which is the great disincentive to the
medical and nursing professions and, therefore, possibly the major
contributory factor in the shortage of necessary nursing facilities
available to the aged. More than that, one is sometimes left with
the impression that the care of old people is considered to be not
worthy of the skill and attention of doctors and nurses. However,
to confuse old age with dependency would be our greatest mistake.
Old age is NOT synonymous with dependency.
Undoubtedly health in old age is the real key to a happy
retirement and. if this remains good, then most other disadvantages
can be overcome or, with suitable help, be withstood. But age
often brings with it many disajreeable side effects such as failure
of muscular power, loss of memory, accident proneness, introspection,
etc., and, adjustments to environmental changes are badly
tolerated. Furthermore, minor ailments which, in the young,
occasion only a day or so of discomfort, confine the elderly to
bed for perhaps two or three weeks.
In the first instance, we should recognise the need to clarify
our own attitudes towards these issues for it is certain that only
real dedication to the task of caring for the elderly will, in the
long run, prove successful.
Secondly, we should be aware of the magnitude of the
problem. In 1962, every third person over 65 years was solely
dependent upon the state for his or her income and a further one
sixth had less than £1 per week to augment this amount. To
this extent the standard of living of more than one half of the
elderly was contingent upon state aid. As one would expect, there
was a gulf between the levels of income of couples where the
husband was over 65 years but was still working and those where
the husband had voluntarily or had been compulsorily retired.
In the first group, 40% (18% of all elderly couples) had incomes
of £15 per week or more and only 3% had less than £6 per week.
Of the second group only 12% (5½% of all elderly couples) had