The Chronicle

BULAWAYO, Friday, May 24, 1968 — The aged will no longer be left to fade away forgotten under proposals outlined here by the Minister of Health, Labour and Social Welfare, Mr McLean.

Opening a two-day seminar on ageing, Mr McLean said that in view of new social and medical knowledge, all thinking on the aged should be revised.

With proper treatment, said the Minister, the ageing process could be forestalled and even reversed. The five percent who were inmates of old age schemes in Rhodesia could be stabilised or even reduced.

The danger of these schemes, said Mr McLean, was that they could hasten deterioration by severing inmates from the stimulus of the general community.

He proposed more money spent on rehabilitation of the aged into a normal, satisfying life, and less spent on terminal care institutions. And he proposed far more community service and responsibility for the aged.

Among the proposals were: Old people should be encouraged to take up interesting, productive and remunerative jobs, and he would propose that the Treasury rule in regard to private incomes of old age pensioners be further relaxed.

Industry, the voluntary agencies and his Ministry should jointly make an effort to provide assistance in occupation, training and recreation for the aged, and a district nurse cum visitor service as a community service.

Mr McLean also proposed cottages or flats distributed throughout the general community in place of old age homes, as the responsibility of the Department of Social Welfare, local authorities and voluntary agencies.