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14
Aged Persons
The Council continued as in past years to take a very active
interest in work on behalf of old people during 1956„
The services available to men over 65 years and women over 60 years
included:
(1) A Laundry Service for the Chronic Sick who were unable by
reason of ill-health, senility, etc. to keep their personal and domestic
laundry in a state of cleanliness required to ensure a healthy
environment. The articles are collected on a Monday disinfected
checked and sent to a commercial laundry, returned again checked and
redelivered the Friday or Saturday of the same week, A varying number
of about 25 to 30 persons have in this way been enabled to retain
their clothes and bedlinen in a wholesome condition.
(ii) Holiday Scheme
The Council continued this service designed to preserve the health
of the elderly by allowing those sufficiently strong to benefit from a
stay of two weeks in the country or at the seaside. Applications
were invited by public announcement and through variously interested
clubs and societies; such applications were made to the Health
Department. Each applicant was required to contribute a small sum
towards the cost,, normally ten shillings per week but varied slightly
in some cases. Arrangements were then made for the holiday at one or
other of the holiday homes run by voluntary organisations.
A grant was made to each of the homes to cover the cost including
the railway or coach fare and their necessary travelling expenses,
less that amount which the individual was required to contribute.
Arrangements were continued with the co-operation of the Red
Cross Society and Women's Voluntary Service for those aged persons who
so desired, to save, through the medium of Savings Stamps the amount
or part of the amount they would be required to contribute towards the
cost of the holiday„ Stamps were on sale at the Health Centre, Red
Cross and Women's Voluntary Service Centres and in all a considerable
sum was saved by aged persons,.
In this way a holiday was provided during 1956 for 293 persons
comprising 33 married couples, 54 men and 173 women, at a total cost
to the Council of £2,058. Holidays were arranged at Ramsgate,
Brighton, Bognor, Leigh-on Sea, Clacton, Herne Bay, Worthing and
Walton-on-the-Naze.