Hearings

REPAYMENT

40 percent of the homemaker plans were paid in part or in full by families. 47 percent of the homemaker plans were paid by other agencies. 13 percent of the homemaker plans were provided free service.

SERVICE PLANS

29 percent were provided up to half day of service or more, 5 days a week. 32 percent were provided up to half day of service or more, two or three times a week. 39 percent were provided maintenance service 1 hour or 2 weekly or every 2 weeks.

CLOSED CASES

22 percent were closed because the family felt service was no longer necessary "client is well again." 36 were closed because the client was rehospitalized. 38 percent were closed because other plans or living arrangements were made. 4 percent were deceased during period.

Financial statement, March 1959-Budget year Mar. 1, 1958, to Feb. 28, 1959 Income:

Donations:

Charitables foundations__.
Others--

United Community Fund___

Fees

Clients___.

Other agencies--

Interest---

Total____

Capital expenses (nonrecurring): Furniture and equipment.

1 Limited to special client needs and special service for children.

$22, 370. 66

6, 105.97 30, 000. 00

12,000. 34 7,089. 47 45.00

77, 611. 44 315. 44

2, 508. 18 1, 030. 46 1,755.00 2, 889.85

8, 183. 49

19, 512. 97

45, 705. 16 2,963. 76

68, 181. 89

315. 44 8, 183. 49 68, 181. 89

-76, 680. 82

930.62

4,386. 31 844. 15

3, 542. 16

STATEMENT OF MR. GUY VALIANTE

I am Guy Valiante, age 76 on October 31, 1959. I retired the second month of 1953. I found some odd jobs at first but none turned out very well. Finally

I became somewhat mentally ill, and am at this time under Dr. Follinbee's care at Stanford Hospital, San Francisco. He sent me to the senior center. There I have made more friends in 2 months than I'd had in 25 years. I am on several committees. Four days a week are filled for me with useful and

good things to do. I am beginning to smile again.

My social security income is $87 per month. I pay $40 per month (almost 50 percent of my income) for one room, with a bath and toilet in the hall, which 18 other persons use. I think we should have more income to meet our expenses and hospital and medical care. It is impossible to meet medical expenses if they are serious. We need housing in a very bad way. Some of the rooms that old people live in are not very clean but we have to live in them just the same because they are all we can get for the money. I have stopped smoking, shows, etc. All those things I can do without.

STATEMENT OF MR. JOE SEAQUIST

The great low-cost housing projects that are just getting underway all over the United States will make it possible for low-income and handicapped oldsters like myself to live in modern and sanitary quarters and not in damp basement rooms and out-of-the-way places with long stairways to climb, as is the case up to date.

Having been crippled by a stroke over 10 years ago, I was badly in need of a conveniently located place to live, with an elevator and other things that are so necessary for older people, but the rent was too high for me, depending on my social security and public welfare. Besides, on account of my being old and partly crippled, the landlords looked at me as a bad risk, so I had to stay in a damp basement flat and hope that something would happen for the better.

And now we have the big housing project underway, and I hope that there will be a much-needed increase in the social security in the near future, so that I and other oldsters wil be able to take advantage of the new developments. This increase will help to keep the wheels of industry running and is not wasted.

STATEMENT OF MR. RILEY SAMUEL

I am now 64 years old. I worked for many years on the railroad, and was looking forward to retirement because I had a good plan made to keep busy and make a little money. I was going to go into the poultry business, but a sudden heart attack knocked all that into a cocked hat. I was forced to face retirement with no active work to do, with ill health, and a limited income.

I had several very hard months, but meeting other people my age at the senior center got me interested in quiet recreation. I began to feel better in every way. Finally I heard about selling plastic tablecloths. This is something a person can do on his own and when he feels really able to work. I am trying this now, not only to make a little money but to help me meet other people, and I feel that it is good because I am able to offer them something useful at a reasonable price. I find many older people who have harder things than mine to face, and it is good to know that the Government, through this subcommittee, is trying to find out what can be done to keep us all useful to ourselves and to each other.

STATEMENT OF MRS. ETHEL GERWICK

My main concern now, at age 77, is my health. I have had a heart condition ever since I was 14 years old, due to improper care during a siege of scarlet fever-lived in a primitive, scantily furnished Kansas prairie home. A doctor was out of the question; we lived 12 miles out in the country from the nearest town where a doctor's services could be available. I was 10 years old when my father died, leaving my mother with six children, the oldest 14 years old, and

not much "to do with." At that time a bare existence was a problem-the luxury of a doctor was out of the question then-as it is for me today.

At the present time, I am receiving $87.50 old age and $33 social security— all together $120.80 per month. My rent is $46 per month (more than one-third instead of one-fifth of my income) which leaves $74.80 to eat on. My telephone is $4.43 less to eat on, laundry at the washerette twice a month, 90 cents, leaving $69.47; then there is streetcar fare, newspaper, etc. All together I have about $60 per month for food. I have been largely overweight, due to improper eating. The doctor tells me to reduce on account of my heart condition, but protein foods are too expensive for my income. I have my monthly income all figured out in advance-it amounts to about $2 per day to eat on, and a good beefsteak dinner will consume that amount, which leaves the other two meals too skimpy for comfort. Then I eat bread, potatoes, and other cheap, starchy foods to fill up on, and consequently take on more weight.

I go out to the University of California Hospital; the welfare have sent me a card entitling me to free medical treatments, otherwise I would not have my medical care. My mother died of cancer when she was 68 years old, and this last January my daughter died of cancer at age 56; consequently all the doctors out there can think of is cancer. I don't believe I have one yet-although I know my history is very doubtful-that is all the doctors will look for. And another thing, I have two flights of stairs here which are bad for my heart, but the rent problem is something to be considered I cannot find anything with an elevator for less than $60 to $65 per month-then would have less to eat on. I do not like a ground floor apartment; always afraid somebody will crawl in the window; I would live in constant fear. The landlady said she was going to raise the rent here as soon as I moved. Everything is very congenial here and I would like to stay but I don't know when my heart will simply refuse these stairs.

I do not have anything for clothes, but go to second-hand stores, Goodwill, etc., and so far am able to get by. Shoes are a real problem-can't buy a pair of comfortable shoes for less than $16 or $17. My feet have been ruined in the years agone by wearing cheap, ill-fitting shoes; couldn't afford a good, well-made pair.

Once upon a time $120 was a lot of money, but I'm sure your subcommittee will agree that today it doesn't go far nor add to the dignity of living, but it takes a lot of figuring to make it last until next month. But then I am very thankful to get it.

The meeting is adjourned.

(Whereupon, at 5 p.m., the hearing in the above-entitled matter was closed.)