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78
With regard to the temperatures in the living rooms, the maximum out
side temperatures during the first two weeks of the recordings were
43° and 46° but rose to 52° in the third week
In 18 cases during the three weeks the temperature in the living room
was below 55°F (It is of course common for elderly persons to wear
a very considerable amount of clothing even including an overcoat when
indoors). In 73 cases the temperature was found to be between 55 and 60°
and in only 11 homes was it recorded between 61 and 65°F These recordings
were taken for the most part during the late morning or the afternoon.
It was apparent from this small scale survey that conversion to smokeless fuels
would present special problems for elderly persons since it would be undesirable to
increase storage difficulties and to increase the number of journeys which would
have to be made to and from the fuel store
The introduction of more gas connections for lighting solid smokeless fuel
appliances might also have its own risks for a forgetful old person. On the other
hand any installation of a form of space heating which would increase efficiency
would be helpful to the health of elderly persons since many of them appear to
have insufficient warmth in their homes
The results of the survey also showed that in a substantial number of the homes
visited the sources of heat were still insufficiently protected although every
effort is made to impress upon elderly persons the necessity for guards where there
is any danger
Useful information was provided which will be taken into account when a recommendation
is made for a suitable conversion to smokeless fuel appliances where
there is occupation by elderly people
Improvement In Laundry Service for Incontinent Elderly Persons
During the year the Council approved a scheme for the installation of machinery
at the Treatment Centre Seven Sisters Road to deal with soiled laundry from incon
tinent persons Useful work in providing this service had been done at Essex Road
Baths, but using old fashioned equipment of the Baths Department which entailed
much handling of the soiled laundry by the staff concerned The Council therefore
approved the purchase of equipment which would obviate handling as far as possible
and cleanse and sterilize in one operation
Authority was given for the purchase of the following main items of equipment,
2 washing machines
1 hydro extractor
1 drying tumbler
1 steam heated and electrically driven ironing ma hine
1 double compartment sorting bin
1 marking machine
Installation work was commenced during the year and was almost completed by the
end of the year The new service began early in 1959 and apart from the considerable