View report page

91
Recent census figures indicate that there are now approximately
11,000 citizens in Greenwich over the age of 65 years, constituting
almost 13 per cent of the populace. This compares with 9.8 per
cent in 1951 and present population trends suggest that by 1977
one citizen in five in this borough will be of pensionable age. It
had, therefore, long been apparent to the Health Committee that the
old premises were inadequate to meet the needs of the rapidly
increasing demands for these services but, because of economic
conditions, it had been found to be impossible greatly to improve
the facilities apart from providing more staff and equipment in a
very restricted space.
At last permission was given by the Government to build a new
centre and this building has been designed specifically to cater for
the cleansing needs of the elderly. Opportunity has been taken
also to provide modern facilities for the cleansing of schoolchildren
and for the treatment of scabies and verminous conditions. It is
hoped that the facilities now provided will meet in the future the
increased needs of an ageing population for certain basic services
which, although perhaps lacking in glamour, are necessary for the
well-being and indeed the self respect of those citizens who become
handicapped or neglected in advanced years.
These services are part of the wider concept of prevention of
illness and promotion of health in this particular field and will
supplement the already extensive home visiting of the elderly which
is undertaken by the Women Health Officers and also the work of
the Old People's Welfare Association on which are co-opted most
of the voluntary agencies concerned with the welfare of the aged.
It may be of interest to note that home visits by the Women Public
Health Officers to the old people during the last year totalled over
9,000 and the number of old people on the register in the Health
Department who have been found to require regular visiting and
supervision is now over 1,800 and is increasing every week.
It is felt that, apart from the laundering and bathing facilities
provided in this building, the mere contact with the outside world
which a visit to this centre will give is of inestimable benefit to
elderly home-bound citizens. An attempt has been made to make the
centre friendly and bright and it is hoped that the old folk who
make use of it will look forward to their regular visits as much as
they did to the outdated building where so much valuable and
pioneer work in this new sphere was performed.
A full description of the building and its equipment with plans
indicating the lay-out of the various rooms was given in my
report for 1961.