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(14)
OLD PEOPLE'S WELFARE
Three Public Health Assistants have been fully engaged in visiting
ting elderly people and the following are examples of the cases encountered
by them during the course of the year:
(a) A lady aged 68 years was found to be living among an accumulation
of rubbish and her personal clothing was in a
deplorable state. She was admitted to hospital and, in the
meantime, her home was cleared of the rubbish, cleaned and
disinfected. Her bedding was replaced and her home
generally made wholesome again ready for her return from
hospital.
(b) A Public Health Assistant visited a flat in response to a
telephone message from a Home Help who had reported
that she had been unable to attract the attention of the
occupier. Entry to the flat was made and the occupier, an
elderly lady, was found sitting on the floor of the living room,
having had a fall at 11 p.m. the previous night. She appeared
to have a fractured femur which was later confirmed upon
her admittance to hospital. The lady made a good recovery
from her ordeal.
These are only two instances of the work carried out which
without any doubt has been a great comfort to numerous elderly
people and has saved many of them from unnecessary worry and
suffering.
The bathing service provided in the Council's Cleansing Station
and the domiciliary bathing service both continue to expand.
The Council continue to act as agents for the Council for the
Welfare of Old People in operating the Meals on Wheels service and
the meals service for the Municipal Club. With the agreement of
the Chairman of the Council for the Welfare of Old People the cost
of each meal was increased in August from 2/- to 2/3d. and the charge
to old people increased from 1/- to 1/1d.