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the completed articles. At the same time she became able to walk to
the pillar-box, accompanied at first, finally on her own. Next a
successful attempt was made to reach the centre by public transport
instead of the hospital car service. She now attends daily on her own,
can do craft and industrial contract work, and takes part in group
activities such as cookery. The day centre has played a supportive
role in this member's group therapy sessions at Ardleigh Green and
Collier Lodge. Length of stay, so far, 9 months.
H. A man aged 30 years with numerous hospital admissions during the last
decade. He was one of the first referrals to the Day Centre. During
the first few weeks he made a good effort to lead the social relationships
between the various newcomers, and at the same time made
spasmodic attempts to carry out different kinds of work. He succeeded
in making simple frames for pictures, and painted a large wall mural
but his work tolerance proved to be very low, and before long he was
evading work as much as possible. This situation has continued. He
still endeavours to make friends with new arrivals but fails to maintain
any such relationship. He is always going to find employment "in a
month from now". Will sometimes work in the centre for short periods
but soon becomes anxious and agitated if encouraged to keep at it. His
attendance is very regular and he states that coming to the Centre gives
him a sense of security.
I. Married with two school age children, was referred to the Centre because
of her depressive episodes and her fear of travelling. She is a pleasant,
extremely capable person, who was able to cope efficiently with any task
given, and at times fulfilled the role of "relief member of staff" during
staff absence. Was passionately fond of babies. She suffered bouts of
extreme depression and anxiety, which often led to an inability to travel,
and physical symptoms such as fainting attacks. She soon found that she
was able to confide in, and talk freely to one of the Centre staff
hitherto she had complained that she was unable to discuss her problems
with anyone, including her psychiatrist. However, her neurosis was so
severe and complex that the staff felt she needed much more specialised
help, and so contact was made with her hospital doctor who arranged to
see her fortnightly and subsequently admitted her to hospital. She has
been in hospital for three months and will probably be returning to the
Centre shortly.
Two problems are emphasised by this case. One is transport - in that on
occasions she was not able to reach the Centre because of her travelling
phobia - although time permitting she was collected by staff - and
secondly, that of the care of her children, particularly during school
holidays, if these occurred at a period when she was not well enough to
cope with them at home and needed Day Centre support.
The Future
It is evident even at this early stage that the Day Centre is
successfully fulfilling a very real need. A pressure for admission to
the Centre is already building up and the need for the extension of the
service calls for careful thought and preparation. The Centre caters
for many patients whose illnesses are chronic and recurring so that some
will require to attend the Centre at times of mental crises which may
arise periodically over the years. Experience in the past has always shown
that the extent of need for a service only becomes known when such a
service comes into being. An extension of the service to the resocialisation
and rehabilitation of the isolated and withdrawn elderly person would
create a further challenge to the skill of all those concerned with the
patients who attend the Day Centre.
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