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37
Ten persons were buried under the provisions of this Act during 1962.
Removal of Aged and Infirm Persons to Institutions
Section 47 of this Act provides for procuring the necessary care and
attention for the aged and chronic sick by means of an order of the Court.
Several cases were removed either to hospital or County Council homes
for the aged after persuasion, but it was not necessary to invoke Section
47 during the year.
Services for Old People
During the year two lady visitors were engaged in visiting the old people
and dealing with their health and welfare problems.
670 individual old people were visited and these are mainly old folk to
whom the attention of the Department has been drawn in one way or
another, e.g. medical practitioners, district nurses, home help organisations,
etc. Close co-operation is maintained with the Deptford Old Peoples
Welfare Association in order to avoid unnecessary duplication of visits.
A total number of 5,123 visits were paid during the year (Miss Ellison
2,116, Miss Smith 3,001, an increase of 1,519 over the previous year.
(Miss Ellison left in September to take up a similar post at Woolwich.)
During the year 908 old people were bathed in their homes and 320 at the
Bathing Station.
One hundred old people on our register died during the year and a further
98 were admitted to hospitals or homes, or were transferred to other
organisations for visiting. At the end of the year 472 people were on the
active list of our visitors.
The laundry service for the aged and incontinent was greatly improved
during the year and details of the service are shown in the Laundry section
of Section "C" of this Report.
The Voluntary Services in the district provide some assistance and
recreation for old people. The W.V.S. have organised five "Darby and
Joan" Clubs in various parts of the Borough so that one or more is within
reasonable reach of persons living in any part of the district. In addition,
the Albany Institute Old Peoples Club, although situated just beyond the
Borough boundary, is patronised mainly by Deptford people.
A "Meals on Wheels" service is carried out in co-operation with the
Women's Voluntary Services Organisation. Meals are provided to over
300 old people each week. The meals are obtained from a local restaurant
at a cost of 2/- per meal, for which the individuals pay 1/- and the London
County Council pay a subsidy of 1/- per meal.
During the year a lunch club was inaugurated by the W.V.S. and this
venture proved a great success. It is hoped that this service will be extended
during 1963.
The Deptford Borough Council maintains three vehicles and provides
two part-time drivers to deliver meals to house-bound old folk and the
remainder of the meals to "Darby and Joan" clubs. The W.V.S. provide
'the helpers for the delivery of meals