The Louisville, Kentucky, Home for the Aged and Infirm

148 Pages·2017·5.16 MB·English

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Electronic Theses and Dissertations
1942
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Irving M. Lipetz 1913-2012
University of Louisville
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Part of the Gerontology Commons, and the Social Work Commons
RReeccoommmmeennddeedd CCiittaattiioonn
Lipetz, Irving M. 1913-2012, "The Louisville, Kentucky, Home for the Aged and Infirm : a study of an
institution in transition." (1942). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 1822.
https://doi.org/10.18297/etd/1822
This Master's Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by ThinkIR: The University of Louisville's Institutional
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UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE
THE LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY H011(E FOR THE AGED AND INFIRM
}
A STUDY OF
AN INSTITUTION IN TRANSITION
A Dissertation
Submitted to the Faculty
Of the Graduate School of the University of Louisville
In Partial Fulfillment of the
Requirements for the Degree
of
Master of Science in Social Administration
Division of Social Administration
by
Irving M. Lipetz
1942
--
I
L

AN
ACKNOWLED~~NT
The writer wishes to acknowledge his gratitude to Mr.
John J. Cronin for his kind assistance, encouragement
and personal guidance; to Mrs. Elizabeth B. Glenn and
members of the staff of the Home for the Aged and Infirm
for their aid and suggestions; to the staff of the De
partment of Public Welfare for placing material at my
disposal; and especially to my wife without whose help
this study would not have been possible.
ii
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter Page
Introduction
1
I Historical Background
5
II Legislation
A. Prior to 1872 20
B. 1873 through 1941 34
III Administration
A. 1832 to 1930 38
B. 1930 through 1941
56
IV Population
A. 1857 through 1941 71
B. Survey of the Residents in 79
the Home on January 1, 1942
V t!edi cal Care
99
VI The Old Age Assistance Program 121
Conclusions
129
Bibliography 135
Appeno_ix 140
iii
b
LIST OF TABLES
Table Page
I Population of the Home for the Aged and 77
Infirm between September 1, 1932, through
August 31, 1941 (Showing Admissions, Deaths,
Discharges and Average Resident Population
II Residents of the Home for the Aged and 79
Infirm on January 1, 1942, by Sex and Race,
According to Number and Percent
III Ages of the Residents of the Home for the 81
Aged and Infirm on January 1, 1942, by
Number and Percent
IV Length of Stay of Residents in the Home for 84
the Aged and Infirm on 1, 1942
Janw~.ry
V Sources of Referrals Other Than the Municipal 85
Bureau of Social Service of Residents of the
Home for the Aged and Infirm on J8nuary 1,
1942
VI Educational Attainments of Residents of the 88
Home for the Aged and Infirm on January 1,
1942
VII Agencies which had aSSisted Residents of 94
the Home for the Aged and Infirm on Jan-
uary 1, 1942
VIII Total Grants, Number of ReCipients and 123
Average Monthly Grant per ReCipient of
Old Age Assistance in Kentucky from
July 1, 1936, through June 30, 1941
IX Number of ReCipients, Amount Granted and 124
Average Monthly Grant per ReCipient of
Old Age Assistance in Jefferson County,
Kentucky, in May, 1939, August, 1941, and
March, 1942
iv
THE LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY HOME FOR THE AGED AND INFIRM
A STUDY OF
AN INSTITUTION IN TRANSITION
INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
This study has been undertaken in an effort to
clarify the present position of the Kentucky
Louisvi11~
Home for the Aged and Infirm in our constantly changing
social scene and to enable the drawing of some conclu
sions which may prove helpful in planning for the future
role of the institution.
Since the passage of the Social Security Act, with
its two programs designed to meet the needs of the aged,
there has been considerable discussion concerning the ad
visability of converting almshouses and homes for the
aged into hospitals for the chronically ill. As Louis
ville does not have a chronic hospital, a purpose of this
study has been to determine the feasibility of converting
the Home for the Aged and Infirm into a hospital of this
type.
In making a study of the institution, it is felt
advisable that an immediate program as well as a long
range program be considered. Closely allied with any
proposed program, such factors as admission policies to
be adopted, personnel changes which may be deemed neces
sary and alterations in the physical plant must be studied.
The method used in this study consists of an ap
proach from several different aspects. Because of a lack
2
of previously collected data, considerable emphasis has
been placed on the historical background of the institu
tion. An effort has been made to determine the prevail-
ing social thinking at various periods during the one
hundred years of the Home's existence as well as to detect
any outstanding trends. Social legislation has been re
viewed as it has affected the institution. The various
organizational arrangements and administrative policies
have been noted. The make-up of the resident population,
both past and present, has been given considerable atten
tion as this has been felt necessary if any accurate con
clusions are to be drawn. The effect of the Old Age As
sistance program and its possible future influence has
been considered. Finally, the medical care which the
residents receive and the arrangements and eqUipment of the
physical plant have been carefully studied to determine what
changes may be necessary for the future role of the institu
tion.
The primary source of material has been the Annual
Reports of the Home and of the Department of Welfare. It
has been possible to secure only a limited amount of data
concerning the institution prior to 1857. There were sev
eral periods for which no Annual Reports could be secured,
particularly from 1916 to 1930. Whenever possible, material
collected from newsps.per clippings, oit y directories, or