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183
GERIATRIC SERVICES
There is the hint of a suggestion in recent social legislation
that local authorities have failed to play their part in supporting
the surge of public concern for the community's frail, disabled and
elderly. Whilst this is undoubtedly true of some authorities it is
far from a reality locally. Over the past 3 decades and more,
some considerable time before legislation in this field had been
mooted, this Council provided practical evidence of its solicitude
for its elderly. It had long recognised that the real demand for
health and social services would come from the aged, especially
the female and partnerless, the main burden of which tends to
fall on relatives and the community. Independent investigations
have shown, and statistics from publications of the Institute of
Municipal Treasurers and Accountants and the Society of County
Treasurers confirm, that the Council's foresight and determined
efforts have culminated in a geriatric service second to none in
England. Last year's Report indicated the extent of the geriatric
problem and to illustrate the services built up in Greenwich to
meet the situation I included a chart. The chart's usefulness and
popularity was such that I make no apology for its repetition
this year.
It is now common knowledge that the numbers of old people
are increasing, as is their need for support and treatment. The
more this support can be provided by relatives and the community,
the better will be the quality of their lives and the more
effective will be the hospital treatment for those who do require
"in-patient" care. As a proposition this is probably ideal, it certainly
has tacit government approval but, in common with most
"good intentions", there are snags. We would be remiss if we
allowed future policy to be fully dependent upon such a concept
for the more the services are community orientated the more
interference will arise in the careers of attendant relatives. For
good or ill, society condones and indeed encourages the commercial
and industrial employment of married women away from
their neighbourhood, a practice which is steadily growing more
popular. As a result, fewer numbers are left at home to provide
the community services which, even under previous circumstances,
would have engendered questions of loyalty. (We are all aware
of the case of the youngest daughter of the family whose life is
sacrificed in the cause of aged parents.)
A weakness which we must endeavour to avoid at all costs is
to deal with the situation piecemeal by meeting demands as they
arise. To be successful, our future plans must take fully into
account the situation now confronting us where the availability