Morris C D
S Afr Med J. 1987 May 16;71(10):647-9.
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.
在东伦敦对老年白人和黑人进行了一项初步调查。目的是：确定该地区白人可获得的设施是否满足他们的需求；鉴于老年黑人的设施匮乏，在对当前和未来的社会及医疗需求进行全面调查之前，先对需求领域进行初步调查。结果显示了一些根本差异；90%的白人对比58%的黑人经历了老龄化问题。孤独在两组中都不是主要特征，但约80%的白人单身者和黑人单身者感到孤独。四分之三的白人有爱好并认为自己生活充实，而黑人中这一比例不到三分之一。81%的白人定期看医生，40%的黑人定期看医生；分别有88%和47%的人定期服药。白人没有滥用医疗服务，但黑人数据低的原因尚不清楚。两组对精神帮助都有很大需求，强调了神职人员在老年护理中的重要作用。93%的白人对住宿表示满意，而黑人中这一比例仅为25%。两组都抗拒去养老院，但养老院中93%的人很开心。这项初步研究证实，为东伦敦白人提供的服务是足够的，但迫切需要对老年黑人人口的医疗和社会期望及需求进行广泛研究。
