Evening star., 1940-02-11

side, but is passed out four times
q day.
Salary Ratio Commended.
Finances: Salaries are main
tanned at less than so per cent
OF the total expenditures, which
Is as 1t should be and indicates
good management, but also possibly
indicates infrequent promotions and
salary increases. Supt. Haskell
states the total cost for main
tanning this institution amounts to
63 cents per day per inmae. The
cost per day per inmate of patients
in the United States Marine hos
pitals average $3.65 per day for the
last fiscal year.
Discussion.
The Home for the Aged and In
firm has inmates in excess Of its
capacity, is understaffed, lacks es-
sential equipment and receives in
adequate financial support.
Because of the infirmities of the
inmates, fire protection should ap-
proach the absolute.
| A female graduate dietitian is
needed and her recommendations
should be followed as diets and
equipment. Inmates should be pro-
hibited from working in the kit
chen and dining rooms except
under the conditions heretofore
mentioned.
The medical, dental and nurs-
ing care should be reorganized. An
institution Of this type might prop
erly be under the attention OF q
District hospital, whereby the serv-
ices Of the various specialists could
be utilized instead of relying upon
| a general practitioner for all medi-
cal care. There is a world of clin-
ical material available to demand
the attention of hospital internes
and to detail on a rotating service
two internes each week from an
existing District hospital would
benefit both the institution and
the students. In the opinion of
the writer, every home for the aged,
every home for the infirm, and
! every county poor farm should be
/ an adjunct to registered hos
pital whereby trained professional
workers, including the social serv-
ices, can be utilized. Constantly
checking and rechecking the in
mates, transferring one to the
tuberculosis Sanatorium, another
to mental hospital, providing
artificial limbs for a third, and
assisting in the rehabilitation of
another. instead of prolonged Gus
todial care should be the aims.
Should any one of the patients
in the infirmary be located in an
existing hospital or sanatorium
which meets existing standards,
any person would believe that pa
tient was receiving the attention
deserved. 1t follows, therefore,
that the standards of this infirmary
should be raised to meet the minial
standards existing in other insti-
tutions.
Recommendation.
l. Provide fire protection conform
ing to the recommendations of the
District Fire Department.
2. Adjust reimbursement for heat,
hot water, electric power and light
to the Children's Home. about sl0,-
900 per year in place of $4,000.
3. Place graduate female dietitian
IN charge and follow her recon-
mendations as to diets and equip
ment.
4. Discontinue practice of inmates
working with food in kitchen and
dining room. except under the con-
ditions heretofore mentioned.
5. Construct additional facilities
or reduce number of inmates to 80
square feet per bed.
s. Construct an adequate number
Of shower baths.
7. Place the institution under the
medical supervision of a District
general hospital.
D. Provide inflrmary employees so
that the nurse-patient and the at
| tendant-patient ratio meet accept
able standards.
9. Provide medical facilities and
equipment to develop workrooms
where adequate treatment can be
administered.