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182
Bathing at Bathing Centres—Elderly people who are concerned
with this service are conveyed to the centres by minibus and they
consist of those persons who have inadequate bathing facilities at
home coupled with blindness, failing sight or suffer with other
physical disabilities. Hair-washing and pedicure have become
indispensable off-shoots of the bathing service for although many
old people are able to bath themselves they lack the range of
movement and dexterity to perform these very necessary personal
functions.
Tunnel
Avenue
Plumstead
Lionel
Road
Total
Number bathed at home 3,457 4,048 3,400 10,905*
Number bathed at centre 2,006 1,405 956 4,367†
Pedicure 126 104 157 387
Hair-washing 28 92 18 138
* Mates 2,951 Females 7,954
† Males 1,028 Females 3,339
Miscellaneous—Treatment of scabies and the cleansing of
verminous persons are also duties falling to the staff of the bathing
centres.
Incontinent Laundry Service
This service has been established to:—
(i) relieve the pressure on families who are managing under
extreme difficulties with seriously ill patients;
(ii) assist many old persons who, although not seriously ill,
have a stress incontinence or kidney condition.
Although dealing mainly with laundry from the homes of the
elderly, this service is extended to all like cases of all ages at home
or in residential care. Collections are usually daily but they can
vary from twice to three times per week. There is no doubt but that
this service is frequently the means whereby elderly persons are
enabled to pass their remaining days among their own surroundings
when otherwise they would be hospital patients.
Ancillary to this service is the loan of mackintoshes and a limited
number of sheets and draw sheets are also available for urgent
needs. Both this and the Bathing Service are worked in closest
co-operation with the District Nurses.