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PREVENTION OF ILLNESS, CARE AND AFTER-CARE
REPORT OF THE CERIATRIC LIAISON OFFICER
A greater understanding of Local Authority services for the
elderly has I feel been of great help to the General Practitioners
and hospital staff, thus enabling a continued and co-ordinated service
on patients leaving hospital.
Home assessment visits continued to advise on the care of the
elderly and the follow-up observation of patients discharged from
hospital, these forming a major part of my work.
Cases visited 1971 No. of Cases
Referred by Geriatric Consultants on
discharge from hospital 167
Referred by General Practitioners 13
Referred by Consultant Physicians on discharge
from hospital 122
Miscellaneous Referrals 231
Revisits to cases 655
Total visits made 1,188
GERIATRIC CLINIC-PORTERS AVENUE
We started the Geriatric Clinic in 1968. We actually work it
on lines which seem to be a cross between a club and a "Well Woman/Man"
Clinic.
The people come voluntarily and they have an 8 week course
attending once a week. Each week there is a lecture often accompanied
by a film or coloured slides dealing with problems which would be of
interest to them. e.g. Food and Health, Home and Safety, Heating and
Health, Pensions and Supplementary Benefits, Care of the feet, Exercises
for the over 60's and Making the most of Retirement. They also have
a medical check-up if they wish.
In 1971 we had 52 attenders of whom 37 asked for medical examination.
One patient actually went into hospital before her medical was due.
10 men and 26 women were examined. 16 were married and living
with their partners.6 were widows or single, living with relations
and 14 were living alone, being widows, widowers, separated or single.
11 of the patients were found to be between 20 and 5055 overweight
7 were under 20% overweight, 8 were found to be underweight. 9 patients
were found to be severely deaf, 5 of whom had been provided with hearing
aids, though in one case the patient was not using the aid and in another
it was broken and useless.
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