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Visiting the Aged
Much of the work of the health visitor gets less recognition
than it should, but her services are in constant demand. Requests
for visits to the elderly are an everyday feature, mostly from general
practitioners or hospital almoners. Many of the elderly are unable
to care for themselves, are sometimes without relatives and so require
a number of the social services available. The health visitor is
very much aware of the valuable work undertaken by the Old People's
Welfare Association of Hornsey and Tottenham and she frequently seeks
their help. It is sometimes difficult to persuade some elderly
people to accept help and only after several visits is their cooperation
achieved. Once help has been accepted, further deterioration
is frequently prevented and perhaps the necessity of admission to
hospital averted.
Health Education
Instruction in health practices is only part of the health education
programmes. Whether given individually in the home or in organised
groups, it seeks to develop sound attitudes. To be successful, the
health visitor has to create relationships with parents and parents-tobe,
to gain the interest of the apathetic and the disinterested and to
be aware of the psychological aspects. She also needs to understand
the metabolic turmoil of pregnancy, with accompanying social and
economic stresses. Increases in the preparation of both parents will
increase the knowledge of health in the community and lead to improved
child care. In giving anticipating guidance to parents and prospective
parents the health visitor will enable them to be prepared against
possible future stresses and difficulties.
Health education in welfare clinics is a regular procedure and
is considered to be a much more important function than the weighing
of babies. Discussion of the child's progress, advice on general
care, behaviour and feeding problems is routine.
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