View report page

56
SERVICES FOR ELDERLY PERSONS
Approximately 26,000 Islington residents, or just under eleven per cent of the
total population, are estimated to be over the age of 65 years. Although the great
majority of these people live their normal lives as others do, difficulties may arise
when elderly persons, especially those living on their own, begin to fail in health or
become sick, and are thereby rendered unable to go out. perform their shopping,
keep their accommodation clean and tidy, and prepare their meals. Apart from
medical care given by their own doctors where necessary, the Home-help service of
the London County Council is a very valuable one for elderly persons. The Borough
Council's Health Officers carry out valuable service by visiting elderly folk and,
where the maintenance of normal home standards becomes difficult, by arranging
for help and advice to be given as may be found necessary and calling in the
assistance of various services, whether Borough Council, London County Council,
National Assistance Board, National Health Service, etc. The Borough Council's
visitors also work in close conjunction with these Authorities, including the various
organisations represented on the Islington Old People's Welfare Council.
The Health Officer and her assistant visited 572 new cases during the year,
and re-visits totalled 3,612. Five cases were dealt with under the National Assistance
Acts, 1948 and 1951, and these are described on pages 57 and 58.
2,302 references were made to other Authorities and to voluntary organisations
in connection with the provision of " Home-helps," National Assistance, " Meals-onWheels,"
etc.
National Assistance Acts, 1948 and 1951
In 4 instances it was necessary to invoke the procedure for the removal of
persons to suitable premises without delay, in accordance with the provisions of the
National Assistance (Amendment) Act, 1951.
" An order under subsection (3) of section forty-seven of the National
Assistance Act, 1948, for the removal of any such person as is mentioned in
subsection (1) of that section may be made without the notice required by
sub-section (7) of that section if it is certified by the medical officer of health
and another registered medical practitioner that in their opinion it is necessary
in the interests of that person to remove him without delay."
A Magistrate's Order made in 1954 under the National Assistance Act, 1948, was
extended, under Section 47(4), for the further detention and maintenance of an
aged person in a Welfare Home for a period not exceeding three months.
" (4) An order under the last foregoing subsection may be made so as to
authorise a person's detention for any period not exceeding three months,
and the court may from time to time by order extend that period for
such further period not exceeding three months, as the court may
determine."
Details of the statutory action taken under these Acts are given in the following
statement which has been compiled in the form required by the Ministry of
Health:—