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number of lettings in requisitioned properties
are suitable for individual old people or old
couples. In one hundred and fifteen cases old
people occupied Council or requisitioned
properties.
Whenever a suitable letting becomes available
particular priority is given to an individual old
person. The approximate number of lettings
falling vacant each year and let to old people is
twelve in Council owned property and fourteen in
requisitioned property. It will be appreciated
that generally it is only death or removal to
hospital that creates a vacancy in these lettings.
The demand from individual old people for
housing accommodation appears to be slightly on
the increase. In Kensington there are many domestic
workers who want a room to live in when they retire.
These are nearly all women and frequently they have
to remain in residential work after they have become
unfit because they have nowhere else to go. Men,
generally, retire to common lodging houses.
The question of the rehousing of old people
is continually under review."
Institutional Care, etc. Facilities for institutional
care, hospital treatment, medical care, nursing care,
ophthalmic, dental and pharmaceutical services, sick room
equipment, convalescent holidays, financial aid and pensions
are dealt with by the various official organisations
responsible. These and the various services provided by
the Council are in many instances made available to old persons
through the intervention of the Women Health Officers who act
as liaison officers in this respect.
Where applicable, charity pensions are granted by various
local charity bodies, on four of which the Council are
represented.
So far it has been impracticable to establish a service
for home chiropody, nor has it been possible to extend the
facilities for clinic chiropody which the London County Council
provide at the Raymede Centre, Ladbroke Grove. The Council
have no direct power to provide such a service but steps have
been taken to make the services of a chiropodist available to
old people in their own homes through a voluntary society.
Holidays. Where a voluntary organisation arranges for a
suitable hostel for the reception of old people in need of
rest or recuperation, a grant towards the expenses can be made
by the Council under the powers of Section 31 of the National
Assistance Act.
The Council agreed in principle to make grants to a
voluntary organisation in respect of holidays for old people,
and a suitable scheme is being made. In the meantime, the
Chairman of the Public Health Committee was authorised to
approve cases where it appears that old people would benefit
by a holiday under this scheme.
Laundry. At present no direct authority exists for the
Council to provide a laundry service, as such, for old people.
Section 122 of the Public Health (London) Act, 1936, enables
the Council to cause any article in a house in the borough to
be cleansed, disinfected or destroyed if it is in such a
filthy, dangerous or unwholesome condition that health is