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- 115-
OLD PEOPLE'S WELFARE
A review of the register of elderly persons is being undertaken and between 1st
April and 31st December, 1965, a total of 935 were visited. The purpose of this service
is toascertain the needs of the elderlyand relate them to the various statutory and voluntary
sources of assistance to ensure their continued welfare.
Co-operation with voluntary organisations interested in the welfare of old people
is effected wherever possible and close liaison is maintained with the Old People's Welfare
Committee of which the Chief Welfare Officer is the Honorary Secretary. This Committee
is an autonomous body representative of all those organisations both voluntary gnd statutory
whose interests and activities are concerned with the services to the elderly.
Close liaison has also been maintained with Task Force 1964, Ltd., which isan
organisation whose aim is to harness the services of young people to afford voluntary practical
help and friendship to the elderly. Forms of practical help which are numerous include
house cleaning and redecorating, window cleaning, shopping, pushing wheelchairs, etc.
MEALS SERVICE
The arrangements for meals either delivered to old people in their own homes or
at luncheon clubs were continued successfully by the Women's Voluntary Services in conjunction
with the Kensington and Chelsea Communal Services Committee. The total number
of mealssupplied was 88,457; of these 53,OOOwere delivered by the meals-on-wheels service
to elderly people in their own homes.
ADVICE LEAFLETS
The Old People's Welfare Committee arranged for the publication and distribution
of pamphlets giving information on the services available for old people. In addition,
they carried on the arrangement with the Ministry of Pensionsand National Insurance to send
to every person reaching retirement pension age a card giving general information on how to
obtain services.
LIBRARY FACILITIES
The Libraries Committee authorise the provision of books (including large print)
for old people confined to theirhomes. The circulationof books was effected bythe Women's
Voluntary Services in Kensington and by the British Red Cross Society in Chelsea.
CHIROPODY
In conjunction with the Old People's Welfare Committee and the British Red
Cross Society, a domiciliary chiropody service was provided for homebound elderly persons.
Three chiropodists were employed and they carried out 1,695 visits. 466 persons benefited
from the service. A clinic functions at the Chelsea Community Centre in co-operation with
the School of Chiropody, the Old People's Welfare Committee and the British Red Cross
Soc i ety.
LAUNDRY
No direct authority exists for the Council to providea laundry service, as such.
Section 84 of the Public Health Act, 1936, enables the Council to cause any article in a
house to be cleansed, disinfected or destroyed, if it is in such a condition as to be a danger
to health. The cleansing of fouled bedding in cases of incontinence may be dealt with
under this section.
To complywith legal requirements, the Council have given a general authority
to the Medical Officer of Health to take whatever action appears to him to be necessary
under the terms of the section.