View report page

A "Welcome to Citizenship" Exhibition was sponsored for the
first time by the Council, with the co-operation of the Staff, and
proved highly successful. Each department attempted to show a
small proportion of its work, and how it affected the general
public, in an endeavour to promote interest by young local
government voters in the public affairs of their own Borough.
In this, the Health Department played its part, and I am pleased
to record that the Department's exhibit, which was arranged
mainly by the Chief Public Health Inspector, was voted the best
exhibit.
ELDERLY PERSONS:
The Council has continued its very active concern and support
during 1961 in connection with all schemes designed to assist in
the care of the ageing, towards their better health and to enable
them to enjoy their later years.
Some of these Schemes have been established as part of the
Council's general health services, and others have been encouraged
and developed by means of generous grants to voluntary organisations
responsible for them, amounting in all to £7,256 during the
financial year 1960/61. The work of these organisations has been
co-ordinated as far as possible by the Finsbury Old People's
Welfare Committee, consisting of representatives of most of them
and of the Health Committee, and of which I have been privileged
to be Honorary Secretary. It has operated therefore in very
close association with the Services provided by the Council and
has received from it financial grants towards its expenses. In
addition to co-ordination it has also undertaken responsibility
for the services indicated with the initials F.O.P.W.C. in
brackets below.
(a) Visitors: A nurse visitor has been employed whose duties
involve the regular visiting of aged persons, particularly those
living alone, who are likely to be in need of care and attention.
A social worker was appointed in 1957, and an assistant social
worker in 1960 by the Finsbury Old People's Welfare Committee,
with the main duties of aiding all the aged to obtain such
benefits as might be available from any source, and to give
personal help comfort and friendship wherever possible. In this
and other ways information has become available as to most of the
elderly in need, but occasionally others are found whom had they
been known earlier might have been helped.
(b) Meal Services. (i) Club Meals: Many of the elderly, particularly
those who live alone, are apt to take insufficient food,
not only because of expense but also because of the difficulty
and trouble involved in preparing a satisfactory meal for one.
17