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and in these circumstances even a very slight illness such as a bad
cold which forces them to forego the ordinary household duties for
a few days , may be quite sufficient to bring about a reduction in the
standards which is never really recovered. A little neighbourly
help at these times is quite invaluable.
Old people who are in need of help are not, of course, always
"nice old people" and in many cases they have alienated their friends
and relatives by their bad temper or bad habits. This is where a
voluntary visitor who can and will show some friendliness and
interest in spite of what is often obvious ingratitude, can do much to
improve the lives of these difficult old people.
National Assistance Act, 1948. Section 47
Under this section the Council is empowered to apply to the
Court for an Order for the removal of an old person to a hospital or
an old people's home if they are living in insanitary circumstances
and are unable to devote to themselves and are not receiving from
other people proper care and attention.
A number of these cases arise every year, but the old people
can often be persuaded to take advantage of the facilities provided
without having to apply to the Courts for an Order. Fortunately,
during 1962 all the cases where removal was necessary were
persuaded to go voluntarily either into hospital or into an old people's
home, and it was not necessary to make application to the Court. In
one instance the Council gave authority for application to be made to
the Court but before the date of the hearing the old lady was persuaded
to go voluntarily into an old people's home.
In one case where an old lady was living in insanitary circumstances
it was necessary to get authority from the Council to apply
for an Order for her to be taken to the Cleansing Station to be cleaned
and for her clothing to be disinfested and cleansed under the provisions
of the Public Health (London) Act, 1936. Again, with a good deal of
difficulty it was possible to persuade the lady to go voluntarily to the
Cleansing Station and an application to the Court was unnecessary.
PUBLIC HEALTH LAUNDRY
The number of persons requiring the assistance of the Public