[Systematic industrial medical observation and care of ageing working people as a means of preparing for retirement age (author's transl)].

The elucidations start out from the "Principles for the continued improvement of medical care of the aged" published in the "Verfüngungen und Mitteilungen des Ministeriums für Gesundheitswesen" in March 1971. A study was made in which people approaching retirement age and people already retired were interviewed and examined according to a set system. These people were then given systematic geriatric observation and care. A catalogue of conditions based on the survey was drawn up. It appears that the main task is to introduce legislation giving people approaching retirement age reasonable working hours adjusted to their diminished working capacity. Such a measure is called for due to the scientifically confirmed fact that elderly people require rehabilitative treatment for which reason they should be given extra time off. Very positive results have been achieved with recreation holidays in the form of prophylactic cures in interprise-owned facilities. There is no reason why people approaching retirement age and those already retired should not be prescribed cures. Paragraph 95 of the Labour Code provides the basis for shortening the daily hours of work intermittently, for introducing temporary single-shift work or for changing over from piece-work to time-wages. Temporary assignment of lighter work can also be arranged. The importance of systematic job analyses and of creating conditions for proper health education and sports for ageing people is emphasized. Industrial medicine reports stress that the advanced age groups should not continue to be neglected. Finally the study states that preparatory measures with regard to changes of places of work of factory workers should be carried out with great care; such measures should be taken already between the ages of 45 and 55.