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155
Action was taken by the Council in 4 instances to mitigate
damage to, or loss of movable property belonging to patients
admitted to hospital. In two of these cases, property was moved into
store for safe keeping.
Burial or Cremation of Deceased Persons
The Council's powers under Section 50 of the National Assistance
Act to arrange for the burial or cremation of any person where
no other suitable arrangements were being made, were exercised in
respect of 26 deaths.
The Council's expenses totalled £256, of which approximately
£243 was recovered from the estates of the deceased persons.
Registration of Disabled and Old Persons' Homes
Action has been taken in pursuance of the duty of the authority
within whose area a disabled persons' or old people's home is
situated, to visit the premises and grant a Certificate of Registration
under Part IV of the National Assistance Act where the authority
is satisfied as to the management, construction and conduct of the
establishment.
At 31st December, 1966, only one establishment was registered
and this was in respect of an Old People's Home providing accommodation
for eight people.
COMMUNITY GERIATRIC SERVICES
Geriatrics is the branch of medicine which has re-introduced
'independence' to the vocabulary and life of elderly persons. During
the past 20 years, it has progressed from an era characterised by the
reception of old people in the final stages of dissolution to the
present age of preventive medicine which assesses, rehabilitates and,
where possible, returns persons to their own homes or to those of
the now more enlightened welfare authorities.
Differing views are held on the extent to which the community
should accept or assume responsibilities for the problems of the
individual and these are often coloured or influenced by various
political philosophies. Nevertheless, most people would agree that
those at risk or unable to look after themselves should be protected
and that essential items and services should be made available as
soon as and as fairly as possible.
However, the use of the word 'protected' should not be construed
as meaning that the deprived or disabled should be compelled
to take up a purely 'passive' role. On the contrary, rehabilitation or
restoration of independence, wherever possible, should be the primary
aim.
Old people were the least well provided for under the National
Health Service Act and, until comparatively recent times, legislation
covering their needs was notoriously scanty. However, this legal