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77
Aged and Infirm Action taken under Statutory Powers (contd. )
Mrs, w (79 years)
Mrs. W came to notice of Health Officer in July 1961 She lived alone in two
rooms, Mrs W was active and had meals at local cafe, She refused service of Home
Help and was not prepared to enter Welfare Home, Frequent visits were made during
1962/3 and Mrs W being obstructive, kept her rooms locked. It was not until August
when following a visit by the Deputy Medical Officer that she accepted services
home bathing, laundry and meals-on-wheels. The back room was then reasonably clean but
the front room was cluttered with rubbish Some rubbish was cleared. In February 1964,
Mrs W agreed to go temporarily into a Welfare Home, while her rooms were cleansed
and builders carried out repairs Repairs and redecorations were completed, the rooms
cleansed and rubbish removed ready for Mrs, W. to return home However, she still
remained in the Welfare Home at end of year
Mrs. H (85 years)
Mrs, H was referred by Hospital Almoner for friendly visit late in 1954. Found
to be a difficult and abusive person living alone, However she accepted a Home Help
and chiropody , She objected to Health Officers calling, nevertheless visits continued
to be made She was admitted to hospital in August, 1961 and remained until June 1962.
She was offered vacancy in Welfare Home but refused Home Help assistance was given
daily but the Home Help found conditions very difficult - Mrs, H. was very often
abusive and refused admission. Similar experiences were encountered with meals-on-wheels
service and home bathing, Mrs H. was admitted to hospital early in April 1964
following a fall and died a few weeks later.
National Assistance Act 1948 Section 31
National Assistance Act 1948 (Amendment) Act 1962
Meals Services for Elderly Persons
The importance for elderly persons in particular to maintain a good standard of
nutrition has been referred to in many previous annual reports. It is, therefore,
gratifying that the supply of meals both in the home, through the clubs, increased
substantially during the year. The meals-on-wheels service became a direct
responsibility of the Public Health Department in March 1963:, and 1964 was the first
complete year in which the Council was directly responsible.
Approval was given at the end of 1963 to the purchase of an additional van, but
the Town Hall staff canteen which has co-operated most willingly in the preparaticn
of meals for the elderly, found itself unable to increase its supplies still further.
An approach was, therefore, made to the Welfare Department of the L.C.C. to explore
the possibility of additional meals for the elderly being appropriately supplied from
Hillside, the large Welfare Department home in the north of the borough. Co-operation
was most willingly offered, and the third van supplying meals on wheels prepared at
"Hillside" commenced an additional service in September 1964. A total of 50 meals
daily were prepared, and the arrangement has permitted an increase in the number of
recipients generally, and has allowed a third delivery on a Friday to an area which
had previously received meals on Monday and Wednesday only, Although the cost to the
Council was rather higher, it was decided that the charge to the elderly should be at
the same rate, namely, lOd. per two-course meal, whatever the source.
The meals supplied during the year were as follows:-