Beyond Kindness Several points emerge from the correspon- dence which
followed Herb Greer's article on old age some weeks ago. Overwhelmingly the most striking are the extent and relative novelty of the problem. Mr. F. Le Gros Clark's suggestion that newly retired people should be recruited into the social services strikes me as a good one. So does Mr. John Maddison's plea that the old people should be encouraged to have regular medical in- spections long before the physical symptoms of senility that Herb Greer described set in. A letter from S. M. appears on another page this week. Many people were moved by the description of his living conditions and contributions came flooding in. But this is only one case which has been temporarily relieved. Anyone anxious to give active help should read the annual report of the National Old People's, Welfare Council just published. It points to the number of local coun:. cils and the services they provide; but standards vary and so do the responses of the local authori- ties. Publicity is needed and money and, most of all, helpers who are willing to learn how they can contribute in the most effective way and to attend short courses of instruction. It is wrong to imagine that kindness alone is enough.
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