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116
available holiday accommodation. The Council decided, therefore,
to have its own hotel and, after much search and effort, one
was purchased at Westgate-on-Sea for the exclusive use of Greenwich
residents. It was clearly the Council's intention that the
Hotel should not be a convalescent home, but that it should
provide a cheerful holiday and recreation for its guests. Nevertheless,
although the guests were to be active, provision was made
for the frail and handicapped to be accommodated on the ground
floor. Success was a foregone conclusion and the scheme is now
geared to provide up to nearly 1,000 holidays per year. Since the
official opening in April, 1964, 716 elderly people have had the
benefit of a holiday at Westgate, of whom 437 were away for the
first time under such a scheme.
By the end of 1954, the regular bathing of old people in their
own homes and at the bathing centre had become established and
the introduction of an incontinent laundry service at the same
time brought welcome relief to many households. In addition,
a scheme was put into operation for the temporary supply of linen,
etc., to people whose own was being laundered and co-operation
with voluntary organisations resulted in the repair and replacement
of outworn articles. It quickly became apparent that the existing
premises would prove inadequate for such rapidly expanding
services, but economic conditions at that time prevented improvement
of facilities beyond providing more staff and equipment in a
very restricted space. Government permission was eventually
obtained for the building of a new Cleansing and Bathing Centre
which was finally opened in October, 1961. From the modest
beginning of some 5,000 laundered articles per year and the bathing
of a few carefully selected patients the service is now running
at an annual rate of 64,000 laundered articles and nearly 5,000
baths, over half of which are given at home. In the interests of
old age pensioners generally, special rates for them on certain
days were agreed with two local launderettes. With the introduction
of the new building, opportunity was taken to provide
facilities for foot treatment and in 1963, a chiropody service for
our old folk was inaugurated. In addition to treatment at the
Centre, arrangements were made for domiciliary visits in specially
selected cases.
With the formation in July, 1954, of the Greenwich Old
People's Welfare Association came the co-ordination and drive
which were unobtainable while the voluntary organisations were
operating as separate units. Its support enabled old people's clubs
to become viable and their numbers rose rapidly. Under its
guidance and with the Council's blessing and assistance, a "day