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113
increase in leisure for a greater number of retired people thus
complicating an already complicated situation. A widening of
the gap between the "have's" and the "have nots" seems a distinct
possibility and, with concomitant risks of more social insecurity,
increases in neuroses and psychosomatic disturbances are presaged.
There is an implication here that even closer links with the
hospital geriatric services must be achieved.
Recent investigations have revealed that over half our retired
citizens want to be occupied. At a time when the country is so
desperately short of labour it is surely a profligate waste of the
nation's energies not to utilise such a readily available source of
man-power. Some way must be found to enable such people not
only to regain their self respect and a reasonable standard of living
but also to make a not inconsiderable contribution to the efforts
needed to right the country's economic plight.
A more enlightened housing policy is called for in relation to
the aged, particularly at the planning stage, and much more use
should be made of governmental aid available under the National
Assistance Act, 1948, for the adaptation of homes of disabled old
persons.
Needs of the elderly are already complex and the resources
available to meet them are equally involved. In this there is
more than a hint of the necessity for a co-ordinated approach and,
ipso facto, for central direction in order that each case attracts the
right kind of help or service.
Our supportive services have developed along empirical lines
and the benefits of these schemes extend far beyond the actual
services provided and must be measured in terms of "social
contacts" and "wider interests", etc. But, because they have
proved to be so successful, we must guard against becoming complacent;
we should be alive to new possibilities and be prepared,
if necessary, to change our ground for the good of the service as
a whole. Let us pay some heed to what the elderly themselves
want and not be too dogmatic about what we think they require.
Lastly, and not the least of importance, is the fact that little
of real worth will be accomplished and no substantial progress made
unless we pay more than just lip service to two basic principles,
namely, respect for human dignity and good human relationships,
not only within the family but between patients and the medical
profession and nursing staffs and social workers.
Having outlined the main problems of an ageing population
and suggested some of the ways in which they might, with profit,
be anticipated and overcome, it merely remains for me to record
the efforts made by the Council to meet the situation in Greenwich.