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Plans were made for 114 elderly persons each to spend a fortnight's
holiday at Margate and in this connection mention may be
made of the special arrangements effected for dealing with a cripple
and her husband as well as a diabetic patient.
Catering for two groups of people unsuitable for this type of
holiday took the form of (a) a coach drive into Kent with tea ' en
route ' and (b) a tea party and entertainment at Kidbrooke House.
Admirable though these schemes are in satisfying certain needs
of the aged, it is my conviction that the answer to our problem
lies not wholly in the provision of these kinds of amenities but also
in creating contentment in the elderly by stimulating activity of
the hands and minds in order to impart a purpose to life and so to
produce a feeling of self-reliance. Spending, however lavish, on
the provision of diversions and entertainments is merely palliative ;
the secret, I feel sure, is in making the elderly feel ' wanted ' and
that they are an integral part of the community and its life.
Great reliance is placed on the Lady Sanitary Inspector by
the elderly of the Borough and the following is a summary of the
work performed by her during the year 1953 :—
No. of dirty and verminous premises inspected 61
No. of verminous rooms cleansed 113
No. of verminous persons treated :—Heads 193
Other 103
No. of visits to scabies cases 25
No. of inspections of factories (a) with mechanical power 65
(6) without mechanical power 10
(c) other premises 8
No. of inspections of Outworkers'premises 164
No. of inspections of Houses Let-in-Lodgings 25
No. of inspections of Women's Conveniences 35
No. of Bathing Centre sessions 25
No. of visits to Infirm Persons 1,134
No. of visits to Rest Homes, Hospitals, etc. 22
No. of Miscellaneous visits 215
No. of re-inspections, calls made, etc. 294
No. of visits re: housing 42
No. of complaints received 70
No. of Intimation Notices served 4
National Assistance Act, 1948. No action under Section 47
of the above Act has been required in respect of compulsory removal
of aged and infirm persons unable adequately to care for themselves.
It had long been considered that the provisions of Section 47
failed to cover really urgent cases of this nature and in order to