The Mankato free press., 1920-08-20
PLAN HOMES FOR AGED
WHAT is PROPOSED IN THE
REPORT TO GOVERNOR
SUNSET IN EACH COUNTY
How the Suggestion of Rev. E.
G. Teachout May Be
Carried Out

! ST. Paul, August 14.-Sunset homes
for aged persons, under a plan similar
to that of county tuberculosis sani-
toria, now established in Minnesota,
are proposed by the Minnesota state
commission on the aged, in a report
presented today to Governor Burn
Quist, who appointed the investigating
body.
The report is accompanied by a
draft Of proposed law and the sub
lect OF providing homes for the aged
is expected to receive attention In
the next legislature.
The commission estimates that ap-
proximately 100000 aged persons in
Minnesota would benefit by the es-
tabliShement of Sunset homes. Its IN
vestigation disclosed that Minnesota
Is pioneer in the movement. A rev
other states have begun studies, but
the great majority have yet TO take
up the subject.
Plan Homes In Each County.
The proposed plan is for establish
ment of homes for the aged by indi-
Vidual counties, or two or more coun-
ties joining. Persons who have reach
ed the age of seventy years and are
more or less sef supporting, and those
sixty dive or more years old, II phy-
sically unable to obtain a livelihood,
If in need of living places, may be
admitted to the proposed homes. The
homes would be partly self support
Ing, and in no sense regarded as aims
houses.
A minimum fee for membership IS
tentatively fixed at $3.50 with the
provision that membership can be
acquired also by payment of $50 a
year for ten years TO the county
treasurer. The commission suggests
that the state contribute one half
the cost OF constructing buildings and
maintaining homes. The plan in
other respects is like that under
which county sanitoria are being OPP
Grated in the state.
The homes would be open to per-
sons who have lived in Minnesota ten
years or longer. Husbands and wives
may enter the same home together.
Eek segregation is opposed, mainly
because it might mean separation Of
married couples after years of life
together.
Provides For Management.
The homes are to be under the
management Of commissions made
up of the county judge Of probate,
county attorney, chairman of the
commissioners, and four residents Of
the county named by the county
commission is slightly changed in
b. eases where two or more counties
Join in home projet..
The commission acknowledges val.
nable cooperation and financial as
distance from the Sunset homes So
ciety. The report quotes from infor-
nation gathered in many other states.
and from authorities on sociological
subjects, and includes a discussion Of
The home plan submitted for Mime
sofa.
A quotation from G. X. Chesterton,
The author( is added to the report:
"Of all the monkey tricks of the
modern materialistic sociology that
which sets a mark on it, almost more
than anything else for me, is it's de-
testable disrespect for old age"
Make Up of Commission.
The commission named by the gov
ernor TO study plans for establishing
hoanes for aged in Minnesota is made
up of five members: c. E. Vassaly,
former member of the state board of
control and now superintendent of the
st. Cloud state reformatory: Colonel
Washburn Memorial Orphan asylum,
MINNEAPOLIS; Senator Frank E. Put
nam, Blue Earth: John B. Sanborn,
former state insurance commissioner,
and now a member of the Minnesota
tax commission, and E. G. Teachout,
secretary of the Minnesota conference
Of the Methodist Episcopal church,
who acted as executive secretary.