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93
(d) a water closet in or contiguous to the dwelling, and
(e) satisfactory food storage facilities.
Fortunately many of the more substantial Victorian houses lend
themselves to conversion into flatlets for old people as accommodation
specifically for the aged is extremely limited; indeed, recent
government subsidy policy has encouraged the provision of onebedroom
dwellings. But although such housing problems have
been with us for a very long time, it is difficult to realise that it
is only since 1951 that the existence of an "old persons" housing
problem has been officially recognised. In a Ministry of Housing
and Local Government Planning publication of that time, viz:—
"Housing for Special Purposes", housing difficulties of the aged and
disabled were given prominence. Since then, a further two Ministry
publications have been issued—one in 1958 and another in 1960,
both referring to flats for old people.
Perhaps, as a result of the government publications, housing
for the aged is now becoming a permanent feature in the plans of
many local authorities, but the question of the disabled has received
less attention. Nevertheless, on a number of occasions the Greenwich
Council have carried out structural alterations to enable
disabled persons to undertake a Council tenancy. In this respect
some governmental aid is available under the National Assistance
Act, 1948, for the adaptation of homes of disabled persons, but there
is still great scope in this field.
In certain quarters it has been suggested that the problems of
the aged and disabled could be amalgamated to their mutual benefit
in conversions, which are often less expensive than the cost of new
building. Accommodation on floors higher than the first could
house a younger and fitter occupant, possibly employed as a warden
to handle the heavier duties such as the cleaning of corridors and
stairways, attention to a central heating system and to the garden
as well as other onerous duties. Further, home helps and district
nurses would find it advantageous to have their charges concentrated
in one area and the disabled with their transport of wheel
chairs etc., could possibly assist with the shopping for the aged,
who in turn could perhaps manage to cook occasionally for the
disabled.
Nevertheless, much more can be achieved for these two classes
by purpose-made houses or flats, centrally heated and functionally
designed to avoid unnecessary physical effort. Where possible,
these flats should be close to shops and public transport and sited
to obviate the necessity for hill climbing.
Fundamentally the old have need of the young and the young
have need of the old, even if only in small doses, but under modern
housing policy there is a tendency, albeit unintentional, for the