Austin Mitchell and Ann Syrett present this series of programmes promoting voluntary and community service, focusing on people in the community who give up their own time to help others. The programme aims to provide a clear understanding of the nature and the extent of voluntary work that's done, or needs to be done in many areas of social need throughout the Yorkshire region. This episode looks at ways in which elderly people can help themselves stay fit and active. Title: Yorkshire...

Austin Mitchell and Ann Syrett present this series of programmes promoting voluntary and community service, focusing on people in the community who give up their own time to help others. The programme aims to provide a clear understanding of the nature and the extent of voluntary work that's done, or needs to be done in many areas of social need throughout the Yorkshire region. This episode looks at ways in which elderly people can help themselves stay fit and active. Title: Yorkshire Television – Colour Production Photographs of urban street scenes and candid shots of individuals make up the opening for the programme. Title: A Matter for Concern Austin Mitchell, sitting next to co-presenter Ann Syrett opens the programme. Opposite them are two guests. Austin reports that by 1980 one in five of the population will be over retirement age, this he says will potentially create problems socially, in health care and economically. Title: Austin Mitchell Austin introduces the two guests as Eileen Evans and Gordon Lishman both from Age Concern who he will be speaking to later in the programme. Austin then introduces a segment of the programme where David Hall at Leeds University’s Department of Medicine talks about how the elderly can help themselves. Title: Dr. David Hall – Leeds University Department of Medicine Dr Hall talks of the elderly being regarded as a race apart from the rest of the population, and that at the age of 65 a person changes in some subtle way. Dr Hall goes on to say that in the year of Age Action an older person is simply a person grown up. He says we shouldn’t categorise people as pensioners, senior citizens nor should we expect them to attend those special clubs, day centres and entertainments which are provided for only the older generation. He says older people should be integrated into the community. Dr Hall talks of many older people who are still fit and healthy and continue to contribute to the wider community. The programme shows a mini-bus as it drives into a car park. Ann Syrett takes up the commentary, who says that the passengers from the Dewsbury Road day centre in Leeds prove that you are never too old to learn. They are on their weekly visit to the swimming baths for a trip out and to keep fit. They are seen getting into the swimming pool. Those who are still learning to swim wear floats on their arms. The programme moves to one couple who attend the session talk. The husband talks of his experience at the baths, and although he could swim a little and his wife could not, they are now both moderate swimmers. He continues as the film shows other members of the group enjoying the swimming session. The film goes back to the couple and the woman says how she finds swimming beneficial for fitness and wellbeing. The programme returns to Dr Hall at Leeds University. He goes on to says that older people must continue to be active, without that the result, which is portrayed in films and television that old people apparently become ‘cabbage-like’. The programme shows a woman lying in a bed but awake. Dr Hall says that older people should keep active at home and, with help from family remain in their own home or reside with a member of their family, rather than live in residential care. Dr Hall also has a word for volunteers who can be impatient when dealing with older patients. He says that sometimes they take over and do tasks for them. He then goes on to say that an old person feels old when they lose control of their feeling of wellbeing. An old person who has dignity will probably be quite able to do tasks for themselves, albeit slower than they used to. The programme shows a man shaving. Dr Hall takes the view that many older people will put many medical issues down to just being old and that little can be done to help. Dr Hall suggests that general practitioners sometimes perhaps unwittingly enforce this view. Dr Hall believes there are many health complaints can be treated and cured or alleviated. Dr Hall says it is wrong to think those who older should just stoically suffer with their ailments. They have every right to access health services without feeling that they are wasting a doctor’s time when the doctor could be treating someone younger. The programme shows a man eating breakfast as Dr Hall’s commentary moves on to diet. Dr Hall says that chewing food is important in nutrition and that older people require adequate dental health or false teeth if necessary to chew and digest food properly. The programme moves to the adult education centre in Huddersfield, where a cooking course for older people is underway. Ann Syrett’s commentary explains that the emphasis of the course is on diet using nutritional foods available at affordable prices. Women attending the course take notes as the lecturer speaks. Title: Norma Gregory – Area Principal – Adult Education, Huddersfield On camera Norma speaks about there being no provision for budget meals classes in the area, but Huddersfield now have such a course for the local community. The programme goes back to the class where the lecturer guides her class in making an apple cake, the class members take notes. Norma Gregory outlines Age Concern, who provide a meals on wheels service and luncheon clubs but don’t have suitable premises in the district. It was that and help from the local Age Concern organiser who had received requests for budget meal classes, which prompted Norma to offer the classes at the adult education centre. The programme goes back to the cake making lesson, where the lecturer lists the ingredients for the apple cake. Norma says that older people have less experience of using convenience or frozen foods, so the classes are also giving advice on the nutritional value of these foods and to introduce them into their diet. The programme goes back to the lecturer who has finished preparing a main meal, with meat and vegetables. Norma says that the cost of attending classes for a pensioner is nil, the classes are provided as free by the local education authority. The programme returns to Dr Hall where he says many elderly people don’t eat enough fruit. He also says that vitamin D, which the body needs for strong bones relies on exposure to sunlight. Since many older people spend many hours indoors or cover themselves up when they do go out there is a risk of deficiency in vitamin D. He goes on to say that the old person with time on their hands can engage in useful activity in the community. The programme shows an elderly model railway enthusiast showing a layout to a group of boys. Title: James Bairstow, Volunteer National Children’s Home, Harrogate James says he enjoys the work which is ultimately to get the younger generation interested in model railways. Title: Dr. David Hall Doctor Hall talks of the elderly taking the initiative to provide a service. He says in many parts of the country older people have started organisations to help those a little older than themselves. The programme shows a man helping some older women onto a mini-bus. He goes on to say that personality change often manifests itself in old age, when in some cases they revert to a stage when they were children and in less control of their emotions. Some become very intolerant, he says that during Age Action year he suggests that we should encourage older people to become tolerant of the young, ultimately creating a new and tolerant inter-generational level of communication. The programme goes back to the studio and Austin Mitchell asks Gordon Lishman from Age Concern about the way services are structured. Title: Gordon Lishman – Advisory Officer Age Concern He agrees with Dr Hall that there must be a change of emphasis in the delivery of services to the elderly. He says the priority is to help those who can’t help themselves, but there must be an increase in self-help schemes and give people the means to create their own retirement. Gordon Lishman states that there are new initiatives with the emphasis on helping each other being introduced. Title: Eileen Evans, Organiser – Age Concern York Eileen talks about the employment exchange scheme with older people doing gardening jobs, sitting in jobs with disabled people or children. The scheme offers a wide range of jobs for pensioners and she says, it has been successful. Austin touches on the segregation of older people in for example the art class in Huddersfield which was for specifically for older people. Eileen’s response is that she would rather see the older students being accepted into an ordinary art class, where there will a mix of age groups. Graham’s view when asked by Austin, is that people should have choice. Ann Syrett introduces information leaflets she has in her hand on social services for older people, including allowances which can be claimed from the state. Graham Lishman says that there are about 36 national means tested benefits that pensioners and the disabled may be able to claim. The local authority also provides help with around 25 benefits. Ann says that the information given in the leaflets is complex. Eileen Evans agrees as she talks of the number of queries she gets from older people seeking help. Eileen picks up a book published by Age Concern outlining rights for older people, in a way that’s easily understood. A discussion follows regarding the effect of the future increase in the aging population and how services and demand for national and local benefits for the elderly will cope. They then discuss retirement and how people prepare for it. Austin Mitchell closes the programme with a brief outline of the next one in the series. Credits: Presenters – Ann Syrett, Austin Mitchell Camera – Mostafa Hammuri Sound - Mike Donnelly Film Editor – Peter Fitzhugh Graphics – Brian Beardmore Researcher – Irene Cockroft Producer – Jim McCann Yorkshire Television Colour Production