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74
to be in the home a good deal to show the family what they can do for themselves
and to wait upon the unfolding of concealed unsolved personal frustrations which
are so often part of the source of the family s downfall.
The state of the home is in general indicative of the level to which the
family has descended and from which it must be encouraged to rise. It is no
solution to arrange for the services of a home help or other person to do the work.
Of those referred to the special services health visitors a substantial number of
the parents are either suffering from mental defect, mental illness, physical
deterioration, have been "in trouble" or "inside" or have a combination of two or
more of these failings.
Both special services health visitors received the greatest assistance and
support from family doctors local clergy, statutory and voluntary agencies and
individuals. All appear to have recognised the significance of this work and ar e
very willing to be called upon for help.
Every home visited showed evidence of the intensive work done with the
family. The combined efforts of members of the family in redecorating their
rooms does much to pull them together in making the best of their homes and
giving them pride in their efforts. In general it is not easy to get them moving
into doing this but once started they work well and have great pleasure in the
results.
Considerable debts have been accumulated by most problem families, but by
constant encouragement these can be, in a comparatively short time, very substantially
reduced.
Saving in public funds
Apart from uniting and rehabilitating the family into the community as a
whole, the work of these visitors shows considerable saving in the expenditure
of public monies on each family, as will be seen illustrated in the following two
examples:-
Weekly expenditure from public funds before being
taken over by the Specialist Health Visitor