View report page

During the year over 1,000 visits were made to old persons in the
Borough whose need for help or advice had been drawn to the Department's
attention by voluntary and other organisations, hospital
almoners, medical practitioners, or neighbours. A number of cases
was also brought to light during the course of house-to-house inspections
by District Public Health Inspectors.
The immediate need of patients was assessed and, in cases of
need, contact on their behalf was made with the National Assistance
Board or, where an old person was prepared to have the assistance of
a " home help the necessary arrangements were made with the
London County Council. The recreational facilities offered by Old
People's Clubs were drawn to the attention of the people visited and,
subject to their suitability and their willingness to attend, the names
of various persons were noted with a view to their ultimate employment
in the Workshops for the Elderly.
It has been found that, in many cases, distress is caused, not by
financial need, but by the feeling that nobody is interested in an aged
or homebound person's problems which are often accentuated by a
sense of acute loneliness. Although many of these persons are well
cared for by relatives it is felt, nevertheless, that they should be visited
as regularly as possible if only to encourage relatives to maintain
their efforts. Because of their medical condition, however, many
patients are unlikely to benefit from any material help we are in a
position to provide or obtain, but regular visits help to assure them
that they are not forgotten. On the other hand, it is also necessary to
make repeated visits to old persons living in a state of self-neglect
which is quite often attributable to the fact that none of their relatives,
near or otherwise, is prepared to take much interest in their welfare.
Arrangements are made for the regular bathing of such persons in the
Disinfecting Station and, where necessary, this is carried out in their
own homes.
The cases reported below are fairly representative of those which
have been encountered during the year.
Mr. and Mrs. A, aged 84 years and 79 years respectively, were
visited following a request received from their doctor and it was found
that the woman was totally blind and was suffering from bronchitis ;
she was also extremely dirty. No night clothes were found and the
old lady was clad only in a coat; she was, therefore, supplied with
night dresses and was later removed to hospital. The couple's clothing
ing and bedding were infested with lice and bugs and, after some
difficulty, the man was persuaded to attend the Disinfecting Station
to be bathed and fitted with clean clothes. The infested bedding was
destroyed and, pending fumigation of the two basement rooms the
couple occupied and the completion of work required by a sanitary
notice, Mr. A was temporarily accommodated at Ladywell Lodge.
Clean bedding was provided and after the couple's return to their home
the services of a '' home help " were obtained. In this particular
case there is no financial need to warrant such neglect as, apart from
his retirement pension, Mr. A is in receipt of a good pension from
his former employers.