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There is, nevertheless, a great need for those patients who are not fit enough to
attend the Day Centre nor infirm enough for a Day Hospital and in order to meet this
need a Day Clinic for the Older People was started at Stanley Road Clinic, Teddington
in May 1970. All patients attending have been through the medical check and screening
procedures at the Maddison Clinic and those patients thought to be at risk of
breaking down physically and emotionally are referred by the examining doctor and
health visitor as being in need of further care and stimulation by weekly attendance at
the Day Clinic. The Day Clinic is staffed by health visitors who are available to give
advice on all aspects of keeping fit and well, a physiotherapist who takes small exercise
classes geared to the special needs of older people and a consultant psychiatrist who
holds very successful group discussions about emotional problems. The Friends of the
Maddison Clinic provide a valuable team of volunteers for transport, help with meals
and have given certain items of equipment.
The Clinic is held on one day per week and twelve patients attend.
The Richmond Institute of Adult Education arranges classes of instruction at the
Clinic in handicrafts such as basketwork, soft toy making, knitting for patchwork
covers, tea cosies, coat-hanger coverings, cooking for one, etc. In addition, films are
shown—Royal Family activity films seem to be a great favourite with the older people.
Travel slides and talks have also been initiated.
My thanks are due to the staff of the Clinic and the Friends of the Maddison
Clinic for the hard work and considerable interest shown in this project which has
proved to be a most successful venture.
Dr. Alfred Torrie, Consultant Psychiatrist, has been working as a member of the
medical team at the Clinics for Older People for several years, and I am grateful to him
for the following report: —
"The Clinics for Preventive Medicine have had the assistance of a Consultant
Psychiatrist for over two years now. The psychosomatic cases with a basis of constitutional
depression continue to be investigated.
During the year at the Stanley Road Day Clinic in Teddington, I began group
discussion with the patients. The Group could be up to nine patients, most of
them also severely physically handicapped by difficulty in walking, etc. and also
requiring the attention of a physiotherapist. The following hour is devoted to
unstructured free expression discussion on any topic any member of the group
wishes to initiate, but eventually led by me into discussing the psychological and
emotional aspects of a philosophy of life which accepts what can't be changed.
Since loneliness is one of the main burdens of growing old, these weekly meetings
produce a fellowship at a level deeper than merely sharing entertainment".
Despite the services which are provided for the elderly by both statutory and
voluntary bodies, there is little room for complacency. There still remains a hard core
of independently-minded older people, potentially at risk, who may not wish to avail
themselves of the services which are offered. When a crisis does occur there is no
guarantee that the best possible arrangements can be made for each individual case.
Shortage ot skilled personnel and shortage of adequate resources, especially residential
accommodation for the elderly confused, remain a problem.
My thanks are due to Dr. J. S. Finn, Consultant Geriatrician at Kingston Hospital,
and Dr. J. Andrews, Consultant Physician to the Geriatric Service, South West Middlesex
Group, West Middlesex Hospital, for their co-operation throughout the year.
Dr. Finn emphasized in her report the shortage of places in Welfare homes, for
the aged physically and mentally infirm, and also referred to the inadequacy of the
Meals on Wheels service.
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