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9. Arrangement of holidays in suitable cases. 20 old people were sent
to various holiday homes during the summer of 1952.
10. Collection and payment of private pensions.
11. Investigation of individual cases in connection with personal
problems.
12. Arrangement for the tuition of students and welfare workers and for
their training programmes, visits, etc.
Hampstead Metropolitan Borough Council.
There are certain statutory duties for which the Borough Council is
responsible in connection with old people.
As a housing authority its services include the making available of
suitable accommodation.
Section 31 of the National Assistance Act, 1948, enables the Council
to '' make contributions to' the funds of any voluntary organisation
whose activities consist in or include the provision of recreation or meals
for old people."
Section 47 places a duty on the Council to obtain the removal of an
old person to an institution if he is incapable by reason of old age or
infirmity of looking after himself.
The Public Health Department does a considerable amount of
centralisation in connection with the care of the aged. Since October,
1950, we have been called in to help no less than 150 people. These
requests have come from general practitioners, neighbours, almoners of
hospitals, Councillors, County Councillors, etc., and they usually refer
to the deplorable condition under which the old person is living, and
often include a request that we obtain or hasten admission to a hospital
or an institution.
Individuals referred to the Public Health Department are visited to
ascertain the needs of the old person and in every case an attempt is
made to keep him at home by the provision of one or other of the abovementioned
services and such statutory action as may be necessary.
Where admission to an institution is required, the appropriate steps are
taken.
It will be seen that a large number of voluntary societies and at
least three statutory bodies help in the care of old people in the Borough
of Hampstead, and by and large, provide a fairly comprehensive
service.