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77
SERVICES FOR ELDERLY PERSONS
Section 31 of the National Assistance Act 1948 authorised local authorities to
make contributions to the funds of voluntary organisations whose activities include
the provision of recreation or meals for old people. The Borough Council have
financially assisted the Islington Old People's Welfare Council and the Women's
Voluntary Service for many years under this provision and this has allowed the
establishment of meals services, both domiciliary and to clubs, the setting up of a
work centre, and other various activities. In 1962, the National Assistance Act 1948
(Amendment) Act became operative and this extended the earlier provisions, allowing the
local authority to make arrangements for recreation and meals for old people, either
directly or through voluntary organisations as agencies. A comprehensive review of the
existing services formed the subject of a report to the Public Health Committee, The
review included the i meals services, recreation services, visiting and transport of
elderly persons for the purposes allowed in the in the Act. It was anticipated that it
should be possible during the forthcoming year, viz. 1963, to introduce certain
extensions and improvements for the benefit of elderly persons in the Borough.
As mentioned in previous Reports, the Borough, largely through the Public Health
Department, effects liaison with voluntary organisations as well as other statutory
authorities, assisting old people in one form or another. In the voluntary sphere,
acknowledgements are again due to Miss D.E. Church, the Honorary Secretary, and the
members of the Islington Old People's Welfare Council and to Mrs E. MacGregor, M.B.E.,
Centre Organiser of the Women's Voluntary Service and her colleagues
Visiting of Elderly Persons
The greater part of the organised and systematic visiting of elderly persons is
carried out by members of the Public Health Department, who visit for the purposes of
the Public Health, L C.C. (General Powers) and National Assistance Acts, The Old
Persons' Register maintained in the Department now contains some 3,300 names out of an
approximate total of 25,000 over 65 years of age.
The Department's Visitors called on 827 new cases during the year and re -visits
totalled 5,947. They made 3,838 references during the year to persons or organisations
outside the Department, and in present circumstances, it is most unlikely that this kind
of help could have been given in any other way in the absence of the Department" s own
staff. These references covered requests for provision of meals and home help services,
welfare home or hospital admission, National Assistance or grants and introductions to
clubs, Work Centre, and associations dealing with blind and handicapped persons,
registrations with medical practitioners, and help in contacting relatives.
Gas and Electricity undertaking were notified of defective appliances and
recommendations were made to the London County Council for the provision of fireguards
in an additional 24 cases. 150 cases were also recommended for home nursing equipment
supplied through the County Council
The Borough Council's grant to the Old People's Welfare Council for the year, utilised
mainly for the provision of meals, holidays, and part-time employment for the elderly,
totalled £8,595.