title: The needs and wants of the aged in East London. A preliminary survey.
abstract: A pilot survey was conducted among elderly white and black people in East London. The purpose was: to determine whether the facilities available to the white group in this area met their requirements or not; and in view of the scanty facilities for elderly blacks to make a pilot survey of areas of need before undertaking a comprehensive survey of current and future social and medical requirements. The results reveal some fundamental differences; 90% of whites v. 58% of blacks experienced problems with ageing. Loneliness was not a major feature in either group, but about 80% of both white and black single subjects were lonely. Threequarters of the whites but less than one-third of the blacks had a hobby and considered that they were fully occupied. Eighty-one per cent of whites and 40% of blacks saw a doctor regularly, and 88% and 47% respectively took medicine regularly. The white population was not abusing the medical services, but the reasons for the low figures for blacks are not clear. Both groups had a significant demand for spiritual help, emphasising the important role of the clergy in geriatric care. Accommodation was acceptable to 93% of whites but only 25% of blacks. Both groups resisted going to an old-age home, yet 93% of those in a home were happy. This pilot study has confirmed that the services rendered for the white population in East London are adequate, but there is an urgent need for an extensive study of the medical and social expectations and requirements of the black geriatric population.
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American; D000368:Aged; D044383:Black People; D006299:Health Services for the Aged / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D010865:Pilot Projects; D013019:South Africa; D044465:White People