Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-12-07
What's ina Name.

correspondents have deplored
the horrible" name Of the
Washington Home for Incur
ables. and suggested that steps
be taken to change the name.
The Board of Lady Mana
gers of the home is deeply
concerned by this unfortunate
reaction to what is. after all,
a name deeply embedded in
the past and the tradition of
Washington. The board would
want me, as its president. to
make some effort to explain
our situation.
The name of the Washing
ton Home for Incurables re-
fers, of course, to patients
suffering with chronic ALL
ments. Their doctors have GER
titled, and our medical direc-
tor has verified, that the con-
ditions of these patients will
not improve. This is a condi-
ton for admission to the
home, written into its bylaws.
Except for terminal cancer
patients - and the home is
almost unique in accepting
these-there is a considerable
waiting period because of our
limited facilities and the large
number of patients wishing to
be admitted. To change the
name would be to invite a
change in the character of
the home, and this might in
time work against the best
interests Of patients actually
needing che kind Of medical
and nursing care the home
provides.
Apart from this, the home
is dependent in very large
measure on various requests
which have, in the past. come
to us. A change in our name
would produce a near night
mare of changes in such funds.
some in trust. which even the
hardest attorney might find
intimidating-not to mention
the expense, which we can Ill
afford.
Another reason for retention
Of the name-and a very COM
polling reason it is. too = is
that we are in ever-increasing
measure dependent upon the
outgoing sympathy OF all
Washingtonians for our very
existence. For this reason, we
would be loath to alter a
name which produces such
sympathy. Cancer" too, is a
horrible word, but it is part OF
the name of the American
Cancer Society, and few Of US
would wish to change it.
The home is by no means
self-supporting. The SO mem
bers of our BOARDS ladies
and our treasurer-must every
year raise no less than $780,
600 to make up the difference
between our budget and the
annual total cost Of operating
the home.
Your correspondents seem
to have the impression that
the home is somehow Govern
ment operated. This is not
true. 1t is a private nonprofit
institution.
The home has 1872 patients
at present. A total of 100 en-
ployes-five graduate nurses
and 30 practical nurses-help
to care for them, under the
direction Of our medical staff.
The funds for this operation
come largely from private
sources, although the District
Of Columbia Health Depart
ment. through a congressional
appropriation. supports 30 in
digent District resident pa
tents. A very few Of our
patients pay the full land rea-
sonable) cost Of $225 a month.
Many pay nothing. Others pay
what they can. Result: Our
staggering annual deficit.
which we cannot meet by beg
ging in public for money. as so
many worthy charities do. We
raise this needed money by
other means. including our
annual House and Embassy
Tour. each spring. and other
benefits. II Is nothing new to
us: this has been one Of Wash
ington's quiet efforts since the
home was founded in 1887.
But may add. TO console
any who may feel that the
name Is horrible" that the
patients themselves DO not
share this feeling2 Indeed. /
doubt that many Of them ever
give II a thought. In the hui
man spirit. the human will TO
live IS so indomitsble. 50 up
surRing a quality that no
patient ever really believes
himself incuFabIe. Among the
few who quietly know and face
the truth. the companion quail
tiles Of courage, Of faith. even
Of resignation. are strong sup
ports.
But all Is not really 10 dark.
nor 90 demanding Of great