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GERIATRIC SERVICES
Primary Prevention
Primary prevention is concerned with elderly who are still active and in good general health. It is designed to
lower the incidence of new cases of illness and disability. It aims to further the concept of positive health,
an active enjoyment of good health, not merely the absence of disease.
Retirement Advice Clinics in Haringey are intended to further these objects, and this they have continued
to do, though to a limited extent. Figures of attendances closely resemble those of previous years, and
expansion will not be possible until there is an increase in the community nursing staff, i.e. in the provision
of geriatric visitors, so that an adequate domiciliary service can be run in parallel with the clinic sessions.
Advice is given on health and diet and general guidance on making the best of retirement. Two aspects of the
life of older people attracted attention. One was the fact that many older men moved to new flats found
themselves in difficulty over hobbies, since they no longer had their gardens or a shed in which to do work
like carpentry. The other was the rather depressing assumption by many retired people that because they had
reached their sixties they must therefore be past all sexual activity.
They were told that this was a fallacy and reminded that retirement was an excellent opportunity of making
the most of their married lives.
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