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Care of the Elderly and Handicapped
The geriatric health visitor continues to act as a liaison officer
between the Geriatric Unit at St. Helier, Sutton General and Wandle
Valley Hospitals and the health visitors in the field.
Special emphasis is placed on prevention of breakdown of families
who care for the elderly and handicapped. Every effort is made to give
support to the relatives.
Advisory Clinics for the Elderly
These clinics are held for the continued surveillance of health
in both men and women on reaching pensionable age, and to stimulate an
intellectual interest in life and provide companionship.
Sessions are held at the Local Health Authority clinics staffed by
Health Visitors and Clinic Nurses. A health assessment is made usually
at the first visit. Vision, hearing and urine tests are carried out,
blood pressure checked and haemoglobin measured. If any abnormality
is detected the general practitioner is notified immediately. At the
first visit therapeutic listening by the Health Visitor plays an important
part in the success of these clinics.
The 6-8 sessions include much use of visual aids and talks are
given by the Health Visitor and specialist speakers on many aspects of
personal health and a variety of other subjects;- nutrition, the
prevention of accidents, hobbies, etc. The number in each group is
approximately 20 - 25 and they often break up into smaller groups of b
for 10 - 15 minutes discussion and then relate their findings to the
whole group. This enables all members to participate and proves a
stimulating experience for the group. There is a break for refreshments
when members have an informal chat amongst themselves and this is
followed by a period of simple exercises to music.
These sessions are informal and relaxed and the Health Visitors
encourage their clients to attend Old People's Welfare Clubs, Luncheon
Clubs etc. The Advisory Clinics have proved to be very popular and
there is often a reluctance on the part of those attending to leave.
Staff
Two student health visitors began training in September 196? and
qualified in September 19b8. Both students trained at the Ewell
Technical College, Surrey.
Two student health visitors began training in September 1968 and
qualified in September 1969. One student attended Ewell Technical
College, Surrey, and one student attended Croydon Technical College.
All four students have joined our staff.
Four qualified Fieldwork Instructors continued to receive students
attached for training from various colleges.
In 1968 one Health Visitor attended a management course and two
Health Visitors attended a post-graduate refresher course. In l969
tnree Health Visitors attended a post-graduate refresher course. In
addition Healtn Visitors attended several one-day or half-day conferences
on subjects of special interest.
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