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29
OLD PEOPLE' S WELFARE
The extent of the problem
According to the 1951 census there were in Fulham
11, 800 people aged 55- 64
14,000 " "65 and over.
It is estimated that by 1977 one person in 5 of the population will be over 65 years of
age, The welfare of the elderly is therefore an increasing and extending social service,
Facilities available
There are many voluntary societies and bodies, as well as private individuals, actively
working for the care of the aged The Fulham Old People's Welfare Committee co ordinates
all their splendid efforts and has representatives from the Borough Council and other
official bodies,
In 1955 the Borough Council made a grant of $1,610 towards the Fulham Old Peoples
Welfare Committee Of the many facilities available through the Old People's Welfare
Committee, only a few are mentioned, eg.
Chiropody
Two Clinics administer chiropody treatment weekly at the British Red Cross and at
Bishop Creighton House, These facilities are greatly in demand and there is a waiting list.
Heals Services for Old People
The following details regarding Meals Services for Old People are supplied by courtesy
of the Fulham Old People s Welfare Committee and are taken from their Eighth Annual Report
1955/1956
"Meals on Wheels"
"The arrangements whereby the South London Catering Company supplies meals under contract
to Fulham and Wandsworth Old People s Welfare Committee for the W.V.S. "Meals on
Wheels" Services and Luncheon Clubs continues to work satisfactorily, We are pleased to
report that our efforts to reach the guaranteed figure of 700 meals per week (400 Fulham
and 300 Wandsworth) have now been realised., When the position was reviewed in January last.,
we launched a campaign to give greater publicity to the meals service which has undoubtedly
met with some success. One marked improvement was revealed in the case of the Brunswick
Luncheon Club run hy the Red Cross
During the year consultations have taken place with the caterers on the question of
variety and quality of the meals and on the delivery arrangements We feel that there is
room for improvement in the delivery arrangements and in the method of keeping the meals
hot, These matters are being studied and we hope in the near future to provide some up to
date equipment which will ensure that the meals when delivered will be in no worse condition
that when they were prepared,
Invalid Meals for London
The Committee has again increased its grant to Invalid Meals for London For the
Present year it is raised from £600 to £800 This organisation continues to provide an
essential service in the regular delivery of meals to housebound pensioners needing invalid
diets. In consideration of the increased grant the charge to the pensioners will not be
increased due to rising costs but will remain at 10d per meal, Two vans are in use in the
Borough and the weekly average number supplied during the period May 1955 to April, 1956
was 374 the average number of recipients on the register was 92,