Old Folks Downsized In The 1960s. They Were Beautifully Treated. Today?
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- Опубліковано 9 жов 2024
- This documentary film was made in 1964. It attempted to deal with the growing number of senior citizens in America and their needs - from 5 million in 1920 to 9 million in 1940 to 17 million in 1960. The program was made after President John F. Kennedy’s signed legislation that helped communities to develop special health services for the elderly. The film presents some of the out growths of that legislation - visiting home nurse services, meal service for those unable to do their own cooking, elderly housing, psychological and medical services, and recreational therapy.
The life of the senior citizens is seen through John and Edna Cummins, a retired couple who sell their home to live in a small apartment. Soon thereafter, Edna is widowed when her husband is struck and killed by a car. Edna has a life expectancy of more than 10 years; the program poses the question is society ready for her? She is seen in a hypothetical situation - a town (Newport Rhode Island) where the special facilities were available for the elderly, a town where Edna could lead a useful and meaningful life.
In the early 1960s, America was at a cusp of significant social and cultural changes. Here are several aspects of how older individuals were treated during this time:
Social Security, which was established in 1935, was a major source of income for many older adults during the early 1960s. However, the benefits were not always sufficient to keep up with the cost of living, and many seniors lived with financial insecurity.
Medicare and Medicaid were not established until 1965. Prior to these programs, many older adults faced financial hardship if they required medical care, as health insurance was often unaffordable or unavailable to them.
The quality and availability of nursing home care varied widely, and federal standards for these facilities were not established until later. Long-term care was often provided by family members at home.
Ageism, or discrimination based on age, was more pronounced and socially accepted during this era. Employment opportunities were limited for older adults, and mandatory retirement policies were common.
Families and communities often played a large role in supporting older individuals. Multi-generational households were much more common than they are today.
The public perception of older adults was often stereotyped, with seniors frequently portrayed as being frail, forgetful, and dependent.
The early 1960s saw the beginnings of organized advocacy which led to significant policy changes in later years, such as the establishment of Medicare and Medicaid.
In 1965 the Older Americans Act was signed into law, establishing an array of services and programs designed to improve the lives of older adults. This represented a significant step toward a more organized and federally supported system of care and support for seniors.
The history of nursing homes and elder care is long and complex, evolving alongside societal changes and advancements in medical care.
Prior to the 20th century, families typically cared for their elderly relatives at home. In some cases, elderly individuals without family support might reside in almshouses or poorhouses, which were often underfunded and poorly maintained. In the early 20th century, with the advent of social security and pension plans, private "old folks' homes" or "rest homes" began to appear. These establishments were primarily boarding houses with little to no medical care provided.
After World War II, with the advent of antibiotics and other medical advancements, hospitals began to play a bigger role in healthcare. There began a movement towards providing care for the elderly in more medicalized settings, leading to the development of what we now recognize as nursing homes.
The Hill-Burton Act of 1946 provided federal funding to improve the nation's hospital system, which inadvertently also led to the construction of more nursing facilities.
In the early 1960s, nursing homes varied widely in terms of quality and the level of care provided. They were beginning to transition from being merely boarding houses to more medically-oriented facilities, but regulation and oversight were still quite limited.
The medical model of care was predominant, which often led to institutional environments that lacked a homely atmosphere.
This was filmed in wealthy Newport, Rhode Island, , a city famous for its Gilded Age mansions. Like much of the country, Newport was also experiencing the social and cultural changes of the 1960s, including the civil rights movement and other social justice initiatives.
If the story of Edna touched you, please consider supporting my efforts to present more films like this by clicking the Thanks button below the video screen or by becoming a patron at www.patreon.com/allinaday.
David Hoffman filmmaker
At 70 I can sure relate. Social Security is more but hasn’t kept pace with the economy. As a widow, I live with my son and his boys. I am grateful to him.
This documentary was a rollercoaster ride of emotion! having to move from their home that they lived in for over 40 years, I love the affection that John and Edna had for each other, then came the sad news that Edna loss the love of her life, then having to live the rest of her life in uncertainty. glad to see that Edna had some pleasant moments in her golden years, I like to think that John and Edna are happily living out the rest of eternity together in the afterlife. 😊
We can learn from this, great documentary film from the 1960s, thanks for sharing this David. Awesome 👍🎞️🎥🙂
Very interesting. Such a huge conversation point here today in Australia.
I don’t know about you, David, but I’m so relieved that the issue of an ever aging population was addressed so thoughtfully in those days so that I, now receiving Social Security benefits, am living the life of Riley. Right. The message to younger folks is that if you don’t want to have to depend on your children, if you are lucky enough to have them, is to provide for your latter years while young. It’s counter intuitive to do this when living paycheck to paycheck, but finding a way to set aside something is important. Weekly, monthly, it doesn’t matter, but when the body isn’t willing or able to work 40+ hours weekly, it’s important to have something beyond SS to draw on.
This rings so true. I am starting the empty nest myself and as property taxes go sky high and utilities too. Its inevitable to downsize. My dad is 94 and i take care of him. My mom passed in 2012. I have been caring for him ever since. My 3 siblings hardly ever see him and his many grandchildren could care less. That is what is so sad.
David, thanks for another wonderful film!
In 1960 there were 17 million senior citizens - today there's over 55 million (including you, David ;) ). I learned in high school 8+ years ago about how social security is in jeopardy because we have more older people than younger people in the country!
Not only that, but young people are having fewer kids, so the problem is only going to get worse. There seems to be no solution, and politicians avoid the subject like the plague.
I should be retired now, but with the current inflation I can't afford to. The future scares me. I always tell young people to start saving for retirement today, because the time will come much quicker than they think.
I just love these old documentary films, even the background music! The statistics (though facinating) seem alarming even for that time, can't imagine what they must be today? As a society I firmly believe we should take exceptional care of our elderly in every possible way, it's ultimately going to be in all of our best interest. Thank you David!✌
My only saving grace is my pension from civil service. Social security alone, I'd be sunk!
As i rent from my daughter, my living costs are reasonable, but still take almost half my monthly income. There was a time when these percentages were more equitable. No longer!
Thanks for this very moving tale, David!❤
Hello my dear friend Lucie!🖑 I hope you are having a fine peaceful
evening! 😉✌
@@JWF99 Hello dear Gem! Had better days, which just angers me at me! Choice.......
Did your daughter pay you rent when she lived at home? Just wondering?
@@luciehanson6250 Well dear, we all have those days, hopefully a better evening can follow!👍
@janel697 Great question! Of course, not as a child.
When her boyfriend(now my SIL)moved in, they paid rent.
Now, I live in paradise, with loving peaceful people. My monthly payment is my pleasure.
I've raised my own rent 2x, when I get COLAs, knowing how expensive utilities are getting. So, hope that makes sense to you, Jane.
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It is so good to be back on UA-cam. So amazing I really love these videos. It brings part of history that I had no Chance to see but it is quite interesting. Thank you for sharing this video.
My 82 year old neighbor was moved into a home last month. Her husband died 8 years ago and she has lived alone since. I helped her with things like using the answering machine and microwave. She is in a nice place with some of her things but she has always been a free person. She has lots lof money put away. She and her late husband invested in some real valuable stocks. Now she has three scheduled meals a day, she can't drive and her daughter sees her every few days.
These old films are better than books, even if they are primitive forms of propaganda.
Maybe it's my age but I do not see them as primitive. Really I don't see them as propaganda either. It's a different way of telling a story using real people in script. To me, it is legitimate documentary.
David Hoffman filmmaker
Always look forward to your films, David. This one was more interesting. Can't believe how many seniors we must have by now. Thanks for this film, its "food for thought" for me.
The film was made 7500km away from my home, the problems with age are exactly the same... the only difference is that at the time the film was made there were millions of traumatized former soldiers, many of whom never got over this trauma until the end ....
The most fictitious part is people talking so casually on a long-distance call. It used to be like, "Hi! Wow! Thanks for calling!!"
My dads father lived in his own home until he fell and hit his head at the age of 94. My family members lived nearby and took care of him until the end. My orher grandfather in Scotland lived in his own house until he died at age 103 in 2016. My inlaws have lived with my wife and I since 2016 with my father in law passing in July at age 78. He suffered from Dementia and was immobile at the end requiring near constant care from us which we did in shifts. My mother in law is in a healthier state but has symptoms from vascular dementia at age 75. We regret none of it, we promised to never put them into nursing homes.
I admire your strength I took care of my mom the last ten years of her life due to smoking related illness, Blessed is those who help others in need. 😊
They were only 58 when this film was made. The good old days. Haha, just saw the 45 comment. 😅
An interesting ‘documentary’ from its time, true enough in parts, and moving. But while “old age” starts later now, it can be filled with dementia, Alzheimer’s, and a multitude of medical problems. They seem to have rehabbed Edna to become a happy, able person again. I wish that could happen with my own mother, but at 85, after several surgeries and increasing dementia, all of the professional and family involvement are only slight improvements to her comfort, much less well-being.
She's lucky to have you.
Thank god for social security taking care of the elderly and sick. Id be dead with out it so i am glad it helps so many .
Everyone is assuming we'll all age as couples. Not necessarily so.
It’s an interesting issue in today’s 2023 society. As folks age they become almost paralyzed, unable to give up living in their creaky old homes. Excuse after excuse prevails. They delay moving so long that emotional connections play stronger and stronger. Eventually they are forced to move. It becomes an unpleasant experience for them. Very sad. Downsize earlier and make it a pleasant experience I say.
On one hand you have medical science that helping to prolong life expectancy of humans on the other hand you have the cost of living going up and cutbacks on government founding make it harder for a lot of senior citizens to survive and enjoy their golden years. 😢
Beautyful!
If people could live long enough, they would be around 140 years old now...
I wish older films were shown in their original aspect ratio because stretching the image distorts human features.
I will be a senior citizen in 2046 .....101 whopping years after the end of World War 2 😅
The use of flat is interesting. I noticed a lot of older people when I was a child used more British English terms and formal language than we do now. Sad
I wonder if the film was made for a Brittish audience?
@@jk-76 no apparently it was done during the Kennedy administration so flat for apartment must have been a widely used word.
That’s great for them but during social security’s inception it excluded groups that were the agricultural and domestic workers which covered which a were a large percentage of African American.
It was of no benefit to the majority of African Americans.
Nowadays we have a bunch of ladder-pullers hogging the jobs, land and opportunity. These greedy individuals refuse to pass the mantle.
Their cousin is the crab. Like crabs in a pot of water, none can climb over the top because the others pull it down.
The saddest part is that they were only 45.
They owned their home for 40 years.
😂😅🤣
I just… lol
Amazing prodigies! LOL@@downy1202
Part of the of price of a medically advanced modern civilization is bridging economical gaps for those whose life it saves/prolongs functioning at less than 100% - true, thriving, self-sustaining capitalism considers this an investment with favorable return rather than an undesirable burden posed by competing, “more humanitarian” ideologies.
:(