ds, a way
should be found if possible by which he may contribute to the group of
people with whom he lives. If a way can be discovered for him to do so,
the opportunity should not be denied him nor should his service fail to
be noted and appreciated, even if it is nothing more than telling a
story to a restless child.

CARE OF THE AGED

At the end of life, as at its beginning, every individual especially
needs the interest and protection of his own family. In ordinary
circumstances neither a baby nor an aged person can be cared for so
fittingly or so successfully in any other place as he can be in his own
home.

With advancing years is to be expected a general slowing down of all the
powers. In old age both body and mind show characteristic changes, and
particularly changes causing lowered resistance and diminished vigor. If
the manner of living is adapted to these changes, both happiness and
usefulness may be prolonged. But so gradually do the changes often come
that they may escape notice for a long time, and the younger generation
in looking back sometimes realizes with regret how much earlier measures
might have been taken to prolong the usefulness and to mitigate the
discomforts of aged parents and friends.

Old people are keenly sensitive to cold, since the circulation gradually
becomes less vigorous and they take little exercise. Keeping them warm
both in bed and out adds more perhaps to their comfort than any other
one measure. They should have warm underclothing and soft shawls and
other extra wraps. A real service will be rendered by the person who
invents a suitable and dignified wrap for old or feeble men, who dislike
the informality of sweaters and feel disgraced by shawls. Old persons
should and can be kept warm in bed, by providing them with hot water
bags, with warm night clothes including stockings, by using woollen or
outing flannel sheets if necessary, and by providing a sufficient number
of light but warm bed covers. It is not always understood that many
covers do not remedy the deficiencies of a thin mattress. If a thick
mattress or two thin mattresses cannot be provided, a thick comforter or
even many layers of newspaper should be placed between the mattress and
the springs, and another thick comforter should be placed between the
mattress and the lower sheet. Rubbing the body with warm olive oil often
affords great comfort, by improving the circulation and thus increasing
the sensation of w