Evening star., 1940-02-07
Removal Urged
For 130 Sick at
Home for Aged
D'Alesondro Fovors
Transfer to GoIIineer
For Treatment

For Treatment
Immediate removal to Gallinger
Hospital of 100 inmates on the sick
list at the Home for the Aged and
1nf1rm was urged today by Repre-
sentative DAlesandro, Democrat, Of
Maryland, temporary chairman Of
the Public Health Subcommittee of
the House District Committee, which
is preparing to begin an exhaustive
investigation of conditions at the
institution.
Mr.. D'Alesandro, who inspected
the home last Friday, following the
surprise visit there of Mrs. Frank
lin D. Roosevelt, said the facilities
at the institution are not adequate
properly to care for the sick inmates.
Those poor old people at Blue
Plains who are sick and suffering
should be transferred to Gallinger
Hospital without further delay"
he declared.
THE home lacks the proper fa-
cilities for them, and the envi-
ronment certainly will not aid In
their recovery"
Staff Held Limited.
Representative D'Alesandro said
there are only three trained nurses
one working on each eight-hour
shift to care for the 100 inmates
who are sick, and only one doctor
who works on part time to pre-
scribe for their ailments.
I'm view of such a situation" he
declared, II cannot understand why
steps were not taken long ago to
care for the sick inmates at the
home at Gallinger Hospital, which
is a municipal hospital for the in
digent My first recommendation to
the subcommittee will be that it call
on District Commissioners to order
the transfer to Gallinger Hos
pital of every inmate at the homo
who is sick and that it be made a
permanent policy to send such in
mates to that hospital in the fu-
ture until present conditions at the
home are corrected"
Gallinger Hospital, however, is
crowded to capacity, with as many
as % extra cots set up in one ward
alone, officials at the municipal in
stitution said today. 1t obviously
would be impossible under the pres
ent setup, it was said, to accept
any large number of patients from
the Home for the Aged.
In the first place, physicians
pointed out, Gallinger was intended
for patients with acute illnesses
whose conditions can be improved
by hospital treatment, and not for
senile or inflrm persons who require
dormitory care rather than active
medical treatment.
The hospital, it was said has
sought to send to the Home for
the Aged the type of patient whose
condition can scarcely be expected
to respond to hospital treatment.
Others are sent whenever possible
to the Home for Incurables, which
has waiting list and accepts only
white patients.
1t Is possible, it was said, that
some senile or infirm patients might
be accepted after the new 300-bed
addition to Gallinger Hospital is
completed about July l.
MIR. D'Alesandro said he also PLAN
ned to recommend to his subcom-
mittee that it not only investigate
conditions at Blue Plains but at all
other welfare institutions in the Dis
trict. He declared the numerous let
ters that he has received since be-
coming temporary chairman of the
Public Health Subcommittee con-
vinced him there is something
wrong with the welfare setup in
Washington.
Plan Called "StalI."
The proposed five-year plan rec
commended by the Commissioners
yesterday after visiting the Home
for the Aged and 1nfirm was de-
scribed by Mr.. D'Alesandro as a
stall" He said the conditions at
Blue Plains should be improved
Immediately and should not await
the carrying out of any five-year
plan.
Armed with facts about Blue Plains
obtained during a two-hour visit
there yesterday, the District Com
missioners were scheduled to face
Mrs. Roosevelt across White House
tea table late this afternoon to hear
what she has to say about the home.
Also planning to be on hand for
the tea prelude to the series of pub
lie hearings on the institution we're
the subcommittee members, Budg-
ct Director Smith and Robert e.
Bondy, director of the Board of
Public Welfare.
Mr.. Bondy accompanied Commits
sioners Melvin C. Hazen and David
McCoach, jr., and District Auditor
Daniel Donovan on the inspection
trip yesterday.
The visitors. following Mrs. Roose-
velt to the institution by 10 days,
agreed that some improvements in
the physical plant are desirable" :"
Mrs. Roosevelt had termed condi-
tions there Shocking"
In statement prepared after the
visit and given to the press by Col.
McCoach the Commissioners pro-
posed that a comprehensive study
Of all District properties be made
between now and the next session Of
Congress with view to preparing
a f1ve-year plan for renovation, re-
construction and neu copctr,,cfio,,
where found necessary and desir-
able"
According to the proposal, the
plan is to be presented to Congress
in legislative form for its approval
and authorization as a program.
Annual appropriations to carry
out this program, if authorized, !"
said Col. McCoach, will, of course,
depend on the amount of revenue