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National Assistance Act, 1948, Section 31.
Under this Section of the Act, which permits local authorities to make
contributions to the funds of any voluntary organisation whose activities include
the provision of recreation or meals for old people, the Council in 1950 approved
a grant to the Women's Voluntary Services to enable the W.V.S. to set up a
"Meals-On-Wheels" service. Hot mid'day meals were to be supplied on the
recommendation of the Medical Officer of Health, after enquiry, for old people, and
particularly those having difficulty in leaving their own homes to get a meal or make
purchases of provisions. Information regarding possible recipients was obtained from
many sources, including Medical practitioners, District Nursing and Family Welfare
Association workers, National Assistance and Local Health Department Officers,
and Voluntary Organisations.

The Council gave considerable assistance to old people's Clubs for the provision
of meals on the Clubs' premises, and also contributed to old people's voluntary
organisations, including Clubs, to assist with holidays for old people and crockery,
furniture, games, etc., for the Clubs.
Cleansing of Elderly Persons.
London County Council (General Powers) Act, 1953-Section 43.
This section states that where any aged person is verminous, or is for any
other reason in need of cleansing in order to prevent injury or the danger of injury
to health, and is so enfeebled that he is unable to avail himself of Cleansing Station
facilities or to cleanse himself properly, the Authority may arrange for him to be
cleansed free of charge at his residence or other suitable place, and may provide
equipment as necessary for carrying this out.
It is not uncommon to find that self-neglected elderly persons have become
vermin infested, certainly the majority of such persons are not in a very good state
of personal cleanliness. Arrangements were made in accordance with this Section
for the Council's visiting nursing staff to provide such a personal cleansing service
at home on request.
The domestic circumstances in which such personal cleansing may have to be
done are often unfavourable, as is shown by the following example.
A request was received from an elderly male person, aged 79, to have a bed
bath at home, since he was too frail to go out and attend the Public Baths. His
wife was aged 72, and this couple occupied rooms on the third floor. The water
supply and sanitary convenience were on the ground floor and water had to be