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4
proportion the standard may fall short, not only of what is desirable, but of
what is statutorily required and mention is made in the Report where,
unfortunately, statutory action, had to be taken on account of such deficiencies.
Home
Accidents
A reference was made in the 1957 Report to Section 82 of the London County
Council (General Powers) Act, 1957, which gave Metropolitan Borough Councils
certain powers of publicity in relation to the prevention of accidents in the
home. The Borough Council during the year decided that it would assist
publicity work in this field by the formation of a Borough Home Safety Committee,
The constitution of the Committee is set out in the Report and it began to
function towards the end of the year.
Elderly
persons
Many aspects of the welfare of elderly persons were either improved or
plans made for improvement during the year. In the Report there is a description
of a small-scale enquiry into the means and methods adopted by some elderly
persons of keeping themselves warm during the winter. This enquiry arose because
it was realised a Smoke Control Area might entail special problems for elderly
persons if they were no longer able to use a coal fire and might have to depend
on solid smokeless fuel which, weight for weight, would occupy approximately
twice the storage space. The enquiry gave an opportunity of obtaining information,
not only on the fuels being used by elderly people, but the degree of safety, or
lack of safety in connection with the sources of heat and also the effectiveness
of the heating arrangements.
It was evident, even from the limited amount of information obtained that
there was much room for improvement. There were too many fires which were
insufficiently guarded and which could easily become dangerous. There were many
appliances which needed far too much attention, much more than an elderly person
was reasonably able to carry out, especially if not feeling well. Storage
accommodation for fuel was frequently far too inconveniently sited and some
heating appliances were of an improvised nature - especially some gas or paraffin
sources of heat which were definitely thought to be unsafe.
It would also appear from the enquiry that many old people must suffer
considerably during inclement weather because the temperature in the living
room, let alone the bedroom (if there is a separate one) is far too low for
normal comfort and would certainly not be helpful if the elderly person were
unwell.
A scheme was also approved by the Council for the installation of modern
machinery for disinfecting and laundering soiled bedlinen and other articles
from persons who have incomplete physical control, and since the soiling of
personal clothing and bedlinen must necessarily give rise to the cleansing
requirement for the persons themselves, the Council also agreed during the year
to assist the bathing services by the provision of a specially designed vehicle
for conveyance to and from their homes of suitable cases for baths at the
Treatment Centre.
Considerable assistance in maintaining the nutrition of elderly persons was
also rendered possible during the year by the provision of a second meals-on wheels
van to be staffed through the good offices of volunteers under the auspices of the
Islington Old People's Welfare Council.