A Survey of Old Persons in Aberdeen, 1956/57

Wallace, J. M (1960) A Survey of Old Persons in Aberdeen, 1956/57. PhD thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

A comprehensive survey of the circumstances and needs of elderly citizens of Aberdeen was carried out in 1956/57. The survey comprised two main sections; (a) Domiciliary Investigation of a 5% representative sample of old people in the City, and (b) Institutional Investigation of all Aberdeen citizens in different institutions, both public and private, throughout the north-east of Scotland. As it is considered that it may be of some general interest particularly to others contemplating surveys of similar nature, the method of survey is described in detail and copies of proformata used are appended. The representative nature of the domiciliary sample was checked by comparison with the 1951 Census findings of the sex distribution, age grouping, and marital status of the sample population. It was cross-checked by ancillary investigation of the total number of old people in receipt of certain services, in particular, the chiropody and home help services. The domiciliary survey involved investigation of 2,806 households, and of the 1,051 old persons found in these households 1,005 (over 95%) were willing to supply information for the purposes of the survey. The institutional investigation covered a total of 1,273 old people in more than 40 hospitals, convalescent homes, nursing homes, eventide homes and lodging-houses. Details are furnished of findings in regard to the residential circumstances of elderly persons, their housing conditions, their physical capabilities and capacity for work, their disabilities, the various domiciliary services they require, and the number of hospital and hostel beds they occupy. The main needs of old persons living at home were found to be, in descending order of frequency of requirement, health visiting, general practitioner visits, chiropody, financial assistance, rehousing, home help, club membership and home nursing. The main unmet needs, also in descending order of frequency were health visiting, chiropody and rehousing. It is emphasised that in the care of the aged the prime requirement is education towards health which is necessary now, and will be in the future even more necessary, for the prevention of further increase in the material needs of the elderly.

• Item Type: Thesis (PhD)
• Qualification Level: Doctoral
• Keywords: Medicine, Public health, Gerontology
• Date of Award: 1960
• Depositing User: Enlighten Team
• Unique ID: glathesis:1960-79365
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 05 Mar 2020 10:35
• Last Modified: 05 Mar 2020 10:35
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/79365