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27
number with each old person whom I visit. Thirty
seven cases were of persons whose relatives were
finding it difficult to cope. These were persons not
needing Hospital admission, but presenting some
problem, usually a problem arising out of senility.
Refusal to co-operate in such things as retiring to
bed at a reasonable hour and undressing before going
to bed, or alternatively refusing to dress during the
day; - rejection of offers of domestic help service;
making a scene when asked to take drugs upon the
Doctors' instructions; locking themselves in at night
so that access would be almost impossible in any
emergency, and being careless with gas and paraffin
heaters, cookers, etc., were common problems.
Some were old people with severe memory loss who
tried to go shopping at 2 a.m. , or who wandered out
and were unable to find their way home. It was possible
to find some means of easing most of these
problems. Old persons will often respond to an appeal
or command from a stranger far more readily than
to a similar one from a close relative. To many a
person of 80 years, a daughter of 60 years is still
"a child" from whom a perfectly reasonable request
is "audacity". The same request from a District
Nurse, or Social Worker, may be immediately responded
to without the slightest fuss. This is something
not always appreciated by doctor and nrrse.
They cannot understand why relatives ask for help
in bathing or blanket bathing those who to them are
perfectly amenable and mobile old persons. They do
not always appreciate that they see the old person's
best behaviour; but that just as a child may hold himself
rigid and say "Shan't wash" to his mother, so do
some old people go stiff and say "I am cleaner than
you are" to a daughter. Second childhood is a most
apt phrase.
Families asking for a holiday for the old person,
or care for the old person while the family had a
holiday, numbered 43. Several of these were able to
go to the seaside to Boarding Houses catering specially
for old persons during early spring or in the
autumn. Average charge for these holidays is £3.10.0.
weekly. Some required help in making the journey;
and escorts, cars, etc. were arranged, though not
without much difficulty. It is a credit to seaside