The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-12-15
HOMES FOR THE AGED.
A Proper and weII-Dehned Field for
Such Institutions.

Rev. T. A. Hendrick
The private home for the aged should
not be a private poOrhouse. Its field of
work is essentially different from that
which provides for the housing and care of
paupers.
The buildings necessary should be such
as will as nearly as possible make real TO
the inmates the home which is their ideal
and which. perhaps, they once possessed
Every inmate should have separate room,
sacred to him or her alone and secure
against invasion or intrusion beyond what
Is necessary for cleanliness and the COM
mon good of all. In these rooms the idea
of the institution should, II possible, be kept
out of sight, and the idea OF Individual
and characteristic ownership should be
made most prominent In case husband
and wife chose such a dwelling place, the
home idea. can be made even more promi-
nent than in the case of an individual. The
inmates should be encouraged to industry,
the form being left largely to themselves,
but daily effort being. as far as possible.
demanded.
The buildings should be, if possible. built
on the cottage plan and having not more
than one floor above the ground for living
purposes. There should be a separate build
ing for a hospital for the chronic tenn
porary sick. that their weakness and af-
flictiOns may not be a cause discomfort to
the others. There should be a community
room, TO which all may resor,. il they
chose, for readings, Rotations, music and
other forms of parlOr entertainment.
The dining room should be furnished with
tables to- accommodate not more than
twelve each, and the fare should be abund-
ant.
III will be seen from the idea of O. home
for the aged that is here presented that IL
excludes such a condition of poor must
be treated in mass. So far as correct
idea may be given; though we may not
may call IL. perhaps more correctly, a
hotel for the aged Ii is not primarily a
charitable institution, for to call IL such
and have II such would defeat its very
purpose. and yet IL may be also called a
charitable institution. because it must be
established not as money king ven
ture. but rather as well-ordered contribu-
ton on the part Of the sympathetic we'll
wisher toward his fellow-men.
The means of support for each member
OF such a. home should be a matter of sepa-
rate agreement for which a minimum sum
should be named-say, for example, $500,
800. or $500. or weekly stipend, to
take IL out of the field of poorhouse effort
and TO p.It IL rather on the plane of serv
ice remunerated.
This minimum sum or the weekly pay
ment should be provided by endowment, or
by payment on the part of the individual
receiving the service. or by someone else
kept in the background. Personel pride is
a social force which society ought by all
means 10 encourage and ought not TO per-
nit to be eliminated. 1t ought to be un-
derstood that man who permits himself
maintain himself is a thief and a pattern
for thieves. Therefore, the effort of the
home fot the aged will always be based
upon seH-respect the primary condi-
tiOn, and exclude every inmate who from
any cause cannot or Is unwilling TO show
II in his relations to others
There gre many objections urged against
the private home for the aged, but these
objectiorzs spring rather from the abuse
than from the proper use of such insti-
tuition. That there is a proper and we'll
defined Held for such institution, and
that the. field Is ever more and more being
occupied by the odds and ends of human
ity, Is apparent to the charity-worker.
IL is said, for instance. that the home for
the aged may be used 10 help unfiial chill
dren to rid themselves of their response
bility toward their parents But, on the
other hand. II is unquestionable that old
age is apt to bring with IL remembrances
of business disappOntments, treachery of
so-called friends and other forms of sad ex-
perience. which tend to embitter the aged
and render their personality uncOngenial
if not positively inconsistent with the hap
piness Of others. That such people have
the right to place in a household where
their presence would mean misery and
their absence comparative happiness can
not. of course. be maintained. The pri-
vate home for the aged offers a solution of
many social difficulties which meet at
every turn of life.