Developments in aging, 1967 : a report of the special committee on aging United States Senate pursuant to S. Res. 20, February 17, 1967 resolution authorizing a study of the problems of the aged and aging together with minority views.

  • United States Senate Special Committee on Aging
Date:
1968
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Developments in aging, 1967 : a report of the special committee on aging United States Senate pursuant to S. Res. 20, February 17, 1967 resolution authorizing a study of the problems of the aged and aging together with minority views. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    opportunities offered for sale, either franchises or businesses represented as a going business. You usually find again the problem that this can sometimes take the savings of a lifetime because these franchises may run as high as $10,000 or even higher. And some people fork out that kind of money and later find out all in the world they have is a franchise. Another area of business in which deception of this type is not infrequent, is in the sale of food freezer plans with the representations being that you can own and buy the food freezer and the food for the same cost you are going to pay for the food. This is frequently found to be untrue. In fact, the business—I have had people tell me that the usual result is that the food costs go up over what they were before. The people start living a little higher and higher again. Here again financing is a critical element that I have observed in aiding the unscrupulous to foist this kind of thing on the elderly people and others. II. RESPONSE BY AGENCIES Important as new protective legislation is, Federal actions on behalf of elderly consumers has also put heavy emphasis on educational programs and other actions that will help States to do the same. A marked increase in such activities was reported in 1967. A. ADMINISTRATION ON AGING Commissioner Bechill reported * that the AOA is supporting pilot demonstrations in 10 areas of great concern to older Americans: (1) sound nutrition,* (2) economy food purchasing, (3) the careful purchase of credit, (4) avoidance of quackery, (5) avoidance of fraud- ulent products and practices, (6) safe and effective use of drugs, (7) accident prevention, (8) management of retirement income, (9) medicare and supplementary health insurance plans, and (10) care of clothing and household equipment. He also reported that approximately 60 projects * approved for funding had elements of consumer protection. A later report from AOA * noted that a majority of senior activity centers funded under title ILI of the Older Americans Act have an element of education in their services. 13 P_ 9, hearings cited p. 90, footnote 2. | ne 4 Some evidence on the need for attention to nutritional needs is provided in this excerpt from a letter submitted to the subcommittee by Mrs. Marcelle Levy, director of the New York State Office for the Aging (p. 166, hearings cited p. 90, footnote ive “There is significant evidence to indicate that more than half of the elderly, who became institutionalized in a period of a year, have as a complication to their principal health problem, a long-standing malnutrition. “The New York State Departments of Social Welfare and Health have, through regional conferences and meetings, assisted long-term care institution operators in effecting nutrition programs to combat this problem. Unfortunately, the effectiveness of such practices cannot be easily transferred to the individual prior to admission. One can only conclude that in all too many cases, the precursors of malnutrition are lowered income fostering poor eating practices. Unfortunately, the effect after a period of time is inevitable. It would be interesting to know the number of noninstitutionalized in this age group who have this problem and are never identified. A fair estimate based wpon current income data would indicate that approximately 9 million persons in the 65-and-over age growp are faced with this as a daily recurring reality.’’ [Emphasis added]. 18 P, 8, hearings cited p. 90, footnote 1. Mr. Bechill also gave several examples, including a demonstration food service program in Dade County, Fla., a Chicago senior citizens’ mobile service project that will, among other things, provide purchasing information for the aged person, and an accident prevention study in Colorado. 1¢ Text on p. 178.
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