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16
Aged persons
The Council continued as in past years to take a very active
interest in work on behalf of old people during 1958.
The services available to men over 65 years and women over 60
years included:
(i) Laundry Service:
This service was continued 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 Monday disinfected,
checked and sent to a commercial laundry, returned again, checked and
redelivered on Friday or Saturday of the same week. A varying number
of about 45 to 50 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 able to do so 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 1958 for 302 persons
comprising 34 married couples. 45 men and 189 women at a total cost to
the Council of £2,399. Holidays were arranged at Ramsgate, Brighton,
Bognor Leigh-on-Sea Clacton. Margate & Worthing.
The Scheme proved an unqualified success as was evidenced by the
large number of appreciation letters received and in other ways.