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(e) Holidays;
The Council has 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 or to the Finsbury Old
People's Welfare Committee, 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 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, and a consid
erable sum was saved by aged persons
Holidays were provided in this way for about 300 persons each
year, and in 1960 for 318 comprising 40 married couples, 42 men and
196 women at a total cost to the council of £2,508 Holidays were
provided at Ramsgate, Brighton Bognor, Leigh on Sea Clacton Margate
and Worthing
The Scheme has proved an unqualified success as was evidenced by
the large number of appreciation letters received and in other ways
I am of the opinion that a holiday benefits considerably the
permanent health of the individual, builds up the body for the winter
months and is of considerable value socialogically All this apart
from the pleasure and enjoyment given to the aged persons at the time
(f) Laundry
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 numoer
of about 45 to 50 persons have in this way been abled to retain their
clothes and bedlinen in a wholesome condition
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