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9
Public Health venture. The enquiry often starts with "according
to your Health Services Guide"
There can be no doubt that this public service is gaining recognition
by doctors and nurses. This is obvious from the fact that the
Public Health Department are receiving notifications of illness of
younger persons to whom suitable help can be extended, in one case
a young man of 21 years, in another a family of four very young
children. Although the object of the service must necessarily mostly
benefit the elderly, six persons under 60 received help and at the
other end of the scale 10 persons of 90 plus were enrolled.
One of the persons now being helped was first served in 1953,
two started in 1957 and four in 1958. Many others have received
help for more than six months.
As the number of cases continues to grow so does the number
of visits, reaching a total of 151 in 1959.
The oldest person receiving help has almost completed her
103rd year.
In one case service was given to a family after the mother had
left her husband and four children in a most dirty home. The
mattresses were wet with urine and the bedding fouled, the bath was
filled with stained clothing and sheets and the whole house most
unpleasant. At the request of the Home Help Organiser, help was
given to bring the home back to tenable conditions.