Do-it-yourself health care for older people.

HE SHEER number of the world’s older citizens, in relation to the relative shortage of professionals in the health care services, and an almost universal limitation of appropriate treatment facilities could lead to a major crisis, unless urgent steps are taken to anticipate the greying of nations. In considering this issue, attention should not simply be concentrated on the numbers of retired people. The ,active sixty year olds do not present a major health problem. The focus for concern should be on the two million over 75 year olds, who can be expected before the end of the century and, perhaps of even greater importance, the half million over 85’s, where the frailest and most vulnerable members of society are to be found. A group profile’ has identified them chiefly as women who remained single or who, if married have probably outlived their husbands. They are most likely to live alone, in unsuitable old housing. If help is not offered to them, and if they are not encouraged to help themselves whenever possible, social catastrophes will be overwhelming. Self health care offers one way of approaching this unprecedented challenge; but if it is to make any sort of real impact, it needs to be applied with understanding and knowledge so that steps to prevent unnecessary illness, or discomfort, are distinguished from treatment which may be capable of self administration. These are quite different processes. ’The concepts of self health care and self-help have already moved quite forcefully into the field of health, surrounding the health care consumer with opportunities to take an active role in maintaining or improving the status of his or her health 2, . This has been expressed through the application of a wide range of do-it-yourself techniques.