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so that when the better weather comes, more of the old folk will
be able to sit out in the sunshine. There are quite a number who
cannot go farther than the balcony.
We are hoping to go ahead, in 1956, with the building of an
annexe to the home, as we need more ground floor accommodation.
"Southwood Residental Club," Bickley.
This year, W.V.S. have adopted a new policy for their residential
clubs for elderly people, and it is now planned to look after
the old people when they become feeble up to the point when they
are actually in need of medical care and skilled nursing.
In the past, when the residents have needed more care and
attention, they have been transferred to Sharnbrook, the W.V.S.
Half-way House, but now this extra care is to be given at Southwood
as in the other residential clubs, and so the Committee have
spent some time in making preparations for this extra care, and
setting aside extra care rooms.
By making one of our very large rooms into a 4-bedded room,
and by using a little used staff sitting room, we have been able to
set aside two rooms as extra care rooms.
Plans are going ahead to decorate these rooms in bright and
cheerful colours, as it is felt that this will be helpful to the happiness
and recuperation of the old people who will be occupying the beds.
The health of the residents over the year has been good, and
our changes have been few.
Although two women left us, one to go to relatives and the
other to a nursing home, we did not take in any more women
residents, owing to re-organisation of the rooms.
Two men residents died, and we took in a further three.
The residents still continue to do handicrafts each week, and
enjoy working for the next exhibition. They have also made toys
again for the Children's Wards at Farnborough Hospital, for
Christmas.