George Burke To Be Chairman Of Local Group

George Burke To Be Chairman Of Local Group Situation Reported To Be More Acute Here Than In Rest Of State Formation of a committee of prominent citizens to combat the problem of care for the aged-a problem reportedly more acute in Ann Arbor than in any other city in Michigan-was announced today by Gladwin Lewis, executive secretary of the Council of Social Agencies. The committee wilt operate under the chairmanship of George Burke, Ann Arbor attorney and member of the state civil service commission. It is charged with studying physical and social needs of the aged population of Ann Arbor, surveying local resources available for care of the aged, and with recommending action to solve the problem. Other members of the committee are Arthur Lehmann, local attorney and member of the county social welfare commission; Mrs. Robert C. Angell; Mrs. William Haber; Frederick C. Matthaei, prominent Michigan alumnus and president of the American Metal Products Co.; Marie Wanzeck Schneider, head nurse at St. Joseph's Mercy hospital; Mrs. Melinda Stevens, supervisor of the Bureau of Social Aid; Clark Tibbetts, director of the Institute for Human Adjustment; Francis W. Schilling, local attorney; Rev. Fred Cowin, retired pastor of the Memorial Christian church; Dr. Harry Towsley, assistant professor of. pediatrics and communicable diseases at the University, and Rev. C. W. Carpenter of the Second Baptist church. Report Released What this group will face as it seeks to unravel the problem is outlined in a report, also released today, on “The Aging in Ann Arbor and Washtenaw county." Prepared under Lewis' direction, the paper painted the following picture: Washtenaw county has the largest percentage of population over 65 of any county in the state. In Ann Arbor, approximately nine per cent of the population is older than 65. The national average is 6.8 per cent. In round figures, there are 3,000 persons older than 65. in Ann Arbor today. And by 1970 at least 14 per cent of population will be in that age group. In this city, 405 persons received old age assistance during 1946. What they received (based on county-wide averages) averaged $34.30 a month. Persons receiving social security payments numbered 855—and they! averaged $21.85 per person per month, "Practically," the report declared, “what does this all mean? It means that some 1,904 persons have between $30 and $60 a month with which to pay rent, buy food, medicine and clothing and have some recreation.