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48
At this juncture I must express my indebtedness to the Battersea
Old People's Welfare Committee, by whom the Public Health Department
has been helped in so many ways, ranging from grants of money
towards various items to arranging for an old person to have domiciliary
chiropody. We look forward to even more fruitful relationships in the
future.
As decline in bodily health and vigour sets in, so progressive breakdown
in an old person's environment occurs, and this is seen in the
room, or rooms, occupied, which becomes at first merely dirty, and
eventually insanitary, and sometimes a nuisance to other people. The
unpleasant task of cleansing these rooms has been carried out by volunteers
from the staff of the Disinfecting Station for a nominal reward.
However, towards the end of the year the Council approved more
adequate financial recognition of their unique and invaluable workA
further step is the decoration of such rooms, after the removal of
accumulated rubbish and washing down. The Battersea Old People's
Welfare Committee has kindly agreed to meet the cost of the necessary
decorating materials, which will transform a dreary room into something
more cheerful and pleasant. Some of the Battersea Youth Clubs have
expressed their willingness to do the actual decorating, and hope to
start work shortly. Thus the youth of Battersea will also be making a
real and practical contribution towards assisting the less fortunate
elderly folk of the Borough, and I wish to thank them for their offer
of help.
Removal under Section 47 of the National Assistance Act, 1948.
Compulsory removal of an old person from his or her home, however
inadequate the home may be, is an unpleasant, but fortunately rare,
procedure, and much careful thought is given to such a case before
definite action is taken. Happily, after kindly persuasion, the old person
usually agrees to go into hospital voluntarily, but it is impossible to leave
some old people in the bad conditions of their home when they are
suffering from grave chronic illness and lacking any proper care and
attention. Emergency action had to be taken in the cases of two old
ladies during the year following the visit of a Justice of the Peace. Both,
besides suffering from chronic illness, were mentally confused and living
in poor conditions. One old lady, after being admitted to St. John's
Hospital, was ultimately transferred to Tooting Bec Hospital. The other,
unfortunately, died in hospital a short while after admission.
In the many problems brought to the notice of the Public Health
Department we work in the closest co-operation with the family doctor
and the hospitals, but in the cases liable to compulsory removal this
liaison is even more important in view of the gravity of the step to be
taken. I should like again to take the opportunity of expressing the
thanks of this Department to Dr. Sthyr, the Physician Superintendent of
St. John's Hospital, Battersea, and his staff, for all the excellent advice
and ready assistance we have received from them in our dealings with
the aged. The aim of the geriatric unit is to improve the general health
of the elderly and so successfully rehabilitate them that they are able
to return to their homes improved in physical and mental health. There