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This book gives an account of the first nine years of the Wm. Hodson Community Centre (in U.S.A.), a day recreation club for elderly men and women.
It is of considerable interest, and the style is
clear, restrained, and conveys a sense of warmth and affectionate respect for the subjects described, combined with the obvious sincerity which has enabled the workers to succeed in their pioneer field. It is written in non-technical language that can appeal to the general reader, but contains much thought and psychological understanding.
Although one of the most interesting chapters describes the group feeling that influences the 'non-participating members' (stimulating a crippled and frail old woman to make the arduous journey regularly just to sit among her fellows), nevertheless most of the book is concerned with describing a multitude of activities—craftwork, poetry, music, drama, discussions, self-government, etc. The contention is well supported that 'change and growth have no age limits'.
The Centre has the aim of 'restoring to the old the right to live life to the end with the fullest opportunity to use one's capacity'. At this Centre aged men and women learn new skills and form new relationships and social adjustments at their own pace, under the influence of interacting forces among a group of their contemporaries, combined with the skilled help of younger trained social workers. The power to learn, to change, and to develop was observed not only in the well educated of wide experience but also, and very strikingly, in men and women of poor education who had lived narrow lives and were suffering deprivation of familiar relationships (immigrants, etc.).
Many examples are given to elucidate the descriptions, and the same names recur in different sections. Unfortunately the absence of an index prevents one following any case through. This book should be recommended to all concerned in group work with the elderly, and it is to be hoped there will be new and expa