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(i) cared for by relatives or friend who needs occasional relief;
(ii) cared for by younger relatives out at work all day;
(iii) living entirely alone;
(iv) in hospital and able to return home only if care is provided.
All these need more help and supervision than is available, and could
be helped by the following services:—
(a) Day Care Service: A sitter-in goes in for a regular period each
week and is paid for the actual time he or she stays, to enable a relative
or friend to get a break, such a service meets the need of most in category
(i). Continuous care of a sick and aged person over a long period can be
most exhausting, and if relief is not given, the relative or friend can break
down and this may result in two people having to be cared for.
(b) Good Neighbour Service: This provides for those for whom a 'Sitter-in'
is not practical or necessary. Many of the people live in one room or in
accommodation not suitable for another person to sit in for a long time.
Also somebody sitting and talking can be pleasant for a short time, but too
long can be a burden on both. These people really need a friend or neighbour
who can 'pop in' regularly (particularly on days when there is no Home Help)
to see they are alright, have not fallen or become ill, to call the doctor or
health officer if necessary, to get in shopping, see they have food to eat.
and get a light meal (especially at time when no Meals on Wheels are
provided), to attend to fires and check safety of heaters and gas; and to give
the kind of friendship and help one might expect of a relative if he or she
were available. This regular daily care, unobstrusive supervision and very
personal friendship cannot be given by a centrally placed worker with a
large number of people to attend to.
A 'Good Neighbour' pops in from time to time as arranged, and is paid
for a service, rather than time spent, though naturally this is taken into
account.
The service which is still in its infancy has operated very
satisfactorily during 1964 and has without doubt done much to meet the
needs set out above, in respect of the small number of cases in which the
Social Workers and others have considered the provision of the Day Care
Service desirable.
3. Barber and Hairdresser Service (F.O.P.W.C.): The Committee provided
a domiciliary Barber Service (Haircutting and Shaving) for the elderly men
who were housebound or bedridden. This was essentially a restricted
service for men for whom no other arrangements were possible. There was
no charge to the elderly and the Committee paid the Barbers fees. Very
substantial use was made of this service during 1964.
4. Christmas Parcels (F.O.P.W.C.): Many of the elderly have been
provided each Christmas with a parcel of groceries and other suitable gifts
by the clubs or churches with which they are associated, or by the Finsbury
Old People's Welfare Committee, which distributed about 400 in 1964.
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