| Abstract |
Providing home care rather than institutionalized care is often less costly to the public and more desirable for the older person. Experts estimate that one-third of the population now living in nursing homes would not need to be there if alternative services were more widely available.This documentary shows several alternatives to institutionalizing the elderly. In New York City's Greenwich Village, the local hospital provides a visiting team of doctors, nurses and social workers to care for the frail, elderly at home. In rural Appalachia, training is available for family members to care for their infirm elders. In San Francisco, vans pick up the elderly at their homes and take them to senior centers where they can receive medical and other support services.In conclusion, Miss Hayes says, "Science has taught us to lengthen life. Now we must learn to make a longer life worth living. Older people deserve choices. For most of us, there's no place like home." |
