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One of the objections raised to the employment of people beyond
the present retiring ages is the alleged increased incidence of sickness
amongst older members of the staff. In this connection a recent
report on sickness in a health department of a local authority (published
in the "Monthly Bulletin of the Ministry of Health and the Public
Health Laboratory Service" for October, 1954), is of the greatest
interest.
It was found that in general women lost more time through
illness than men and married women lost more time than a single
woman. For each category, however, the sickness rates rose to a
maximum for staff between the ages of 50 and 55, and decreased
markedly thereafter. Both single and married women over 60 lost
less working days per year than those in any other age group and
men over 60 lost almost as little time as the youngest.
Specimen figures are given in the following table:—

From the medical point of view, therefore, there is much to be
said for the continued employment of men and women beyond the
present retiring ages, where it would be to the common benefit of
employer, em ployee and community.
Compulsory Removal
In spite of the difficulties outlined above, it was not necessary to
invoke powers under Section 47 of the National Assistance Act, 1948,
to remove compulsorily any person not able to look after themselves
and not receiving proper care and attention.
One old man living by himself in a Council house was found to
be living in grossly insanitary conditions, but we were able to persuade
him to leave home temporarily whilst the premises were cleansed and
redecorated. The Area Welfare Officer very kindly arranged to take
him into St. George's, Hornchurch, whilst this was carried out, and
on his return domestic help was put in to help him keep the home
clean.
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