Life During the Great Depression Was Tough for Many Men

When Dr. John Maurice Grimes published Institutional Care of Mental Patients in the United States at his own expense (see last post), he was able to speak freely about his findings.

His comments about Veterans Administration hospitals which treated mental patients were heartening: on the whole, he found VA facilities almost always situated on pleasant plots of land with room for necessary buildings and recreational activities.

Semi-Ambulant VA Hospital in Walla Walla, Washington

Overcrowding was not permitted, and their furnishings “are always pleasing and comfortable. There is much more space per patient . . . than in other hospitals publicly maintained,” Grimes wrote. The main hospital for patients’ physical care would be nearby.

Photo of Veterans Administration Hospital located on 12th ave. in Salt Lake City. Date of photo is early 1930’s

At the time of his writing (1931-32), VA hospitals were well staffed, and most notably, had low patient/doctor ratios of about 1:52. Grimes mentions that the doctors were “nearly all men who have not yet passed middle life” and were paid more than doctors in state hospitals. Registered nurses for patient care were 1:19, and attendants were 1:6.

Of the 20 hospitals Grimes covered, 14 reported that they had courses for attendants. He also noted that they were well paid and stayed for “comparatively long periods of time.” What a relief this must have been in contrast to the constant churn of attendants at most mental institutions.