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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 comply with 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.
Action was taken in fifty-three cases. The bedding was marked,
collected and laundered at the Council's disinfecting station and
returned to the person's home. The scheme appears to fill a much felt
need. During the year, 2,330 separate collections of laundry were made
and the number of articles cleansed totalled 30,414.
Library Facilities.
The Libraries Committee authorise the provision of books, including
large print, for old people confined to their homes. The circulation of
books was effected by the Women's Royal Voluntary Service in the
Kensington area and by the British Red Cross Society in the Chelsea area.
The number of persons benefiting from the service was 148.
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. Approximately 4,000 were distributed. In addition, they
carried out an arrangement with the Ministry of Social Security to send
to every person reaching retirement pension age a card giving general
information on how to obtain services.
Social Activities.
There are twenty-seven social clubs for elderly people organised by
various associations, etc., among them being the Old Time Dancing and
Arts and Craft classes. The clubs also arrange concerts and outings.
Christmas concerts were arranged by the Old People's Welfare
Committee at Kensington and Chelsea Town Halls. These were attended by
510 persons. In addition, 2,300 Christmas parcels were distributed to
needy old persons by the Old People's Welfare Committee, various
organisations and schools in the borough. Arrangements were made with
the management of a local store for late Christmas shopping facilities.
The store remained open until 9.00 p.m. and over two hundred people
from the borough and adjoining boroughs took advantage of this facility
which was greatly appreciated.
Task Force (1964) Limited.
Task Force has been operating in the borough since September, 1965,
and during the period to 31st December, 1966, some 931 volunteers,
711 attached to school and youth groups and 220 unattached, were
involved in visiting 848 elderly people. In addition, Task Force
volunteers undertook on behalf of the welfare section to investigate
106 cases which had not received any welfare services during the
previous two years0 Of this number, thirty-six persons did not need
any services, eleven died or moved away, four needed decorating or
other jobs and sixteen regular visiting. The remaining thirty-nine
cases are pending.
Much of the work performed by Task Force is carried out during