Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-09-24

one has an income Of more than
that.
Although there is a common
impression to the contrary, care
full studies show that most men
and women want to keep on
working after IS. Only one in
eight stops work voluntarily and
to enjoy leisure. Some of the
Others are compelled by reason
of health to cease full-time ac-
tivity. But for millions, able to
work and wanting to do so but
denied opportunity, age means
more than anything else--frus-
tration.
| Low income is reflected in low
living standards. In general,
older people have poor housing.
Much Of it is dilapidated and
lacks private bath, toilet, and
running water. Little new hous-
ing suited to the needs Of older
citizens is being built. Those
over SIS are at a disadvantage in
either renting or buying the kind
of housing they need.
Millions in Poor Health
Millions Of older people suffer
from poor health. many Of them
needlessly. Studies show that
older people in the lowest income
brackets have far more days Of
disability per year from chronic
diseases than those whose in
comes permit them to obtain
early diagnosis and treatment.
Patients over SIS who are adj
mitted to hospitals remain twice
as long as the typical patient.
Many older citizens who are
,hospltalized could be better cared
for and would be happier in
more homelike surroundings.
such as nursing and boarding
homes or attractive and we'll
run homes for the aged. But
there are not enough such in
situations and many of the ex-
listing ones are substandard.
The problem of mental health
lis especially serious. Between
1900 and 1850. while our popu-
Ilation was doubling, the number
lof patients in mental hospitals
tripled. The number Of patients
who were SIS and older increased
tenfoldl Now. one out of every
four patients in our mental hos
pitfalls is SIS or more-three times
their proportion of the popula-
ton.
Lack Of Personnel
The average State mental in
Istitution is poorly prepared to
receive these patients and does
not have nearly enough psychia-
Itrists. graduate nurses, and other
trained personnel to provide
good care. There is sickening
irony in the knowledge that
many older persons who are now
in Mental institutions probably
should not be there at all; many
could be rehabilitated. They
could be better cared for in
Bothei ways-at home, in nursing
or boarding homes. in homes for
the aged, or in special geriatric
centers.
What these older patients
want is just what every patient
wants. They want to get we'll
rather than to have more care.
They want to get back to q nor-.
NAL. active, useful life. This is
what we mean by rehabilitation.
One man in four who is SIS or
older is widowed. But because
wives tend to outlive their hus-
bands. more than half of the
women over IS know this terrible
loneliness. Nearly 4 million
older citizens live away from any
relative. Many of them feel I'M
wanted; and they are driven by
the pressures of modern life into
Ia kind of social isolation.
Our social service agencies are
inadequately stated to assist
these people. And although some
promising beginnings have been
made. our communities have not
developed the facilities and pco-
grams which would assist older
people in using their leisure time
and drawing on the knowledge,
and experience and companion
ship of other older people in ways
useful to themselves and the
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