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applications for extensions of this period must be made in
accordance with the procedure laid down in Section 47.
During the year no cases occurred where the provisions of the
National Assistance Act for compulsory removal had to be enforced.
Experience shows that friendly persuasion is the best
method especially if the situation is explained carefully to old
people that the Health Department is here only to serve their best
interests.
It is a measure of the success of our geriatric services that there
has been no necessity to invoke the provisions of these Acts since
the formation of this Directorate in 1965.
Holiday Relief for Relatives
Many families provide full-time care for seriously infirm relatives
and, in this onerous task, they deserve all the support we
can give them. A scheme providing temporary accommodation for
old people in order to enable their relatives to take a holiday has
been of major importance in the Council's policies regarding its
geriatric services and has been the subject of increased publicity
during recent years. In accordance with this scheme, arrangements
are made for persons to be admitted to Voluntary Old People's
Homes or are provided with accommodation in the Council's own
residential establishments, generally for a period of 2 weeks.
Of major importance is the Avery Hill Holiday Scheme and
Miss Hatfield, Senior Public Health Officer in charge of the venture
reports:—
"Once again, as the result of a combined effort of trained staff
and voluntary help, some 65 old persons who also had considerable
disability were enabled to enjoy a holiday under the Council's
Avery Hill Holiday Scheme and their relatives afforded a
much needed break.
In this scheme, use was made of the College students' ground
floor single rooms to provide our 65 homebound old people with
very comfortable quarters as well as day and night nursing assistance
and care. The holiday stay included a full recreational programme
and the department's special transport conveyed the
elderly to and from their homes and to the social outings arranged
during the fortnight.
As in previous years, guests for the scheme were selected for
the following reasons:—
1. In order to allow dependants' relations to have a holiday.
2. Those living alone and room-bound.
3. Those suffering from a disability which precluded them from
taking a holiday at the Greenwich Hotel at Westgate.