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48
No one was removed compulsorily under the National Assistance Act
1948 or the National Assistance (Amendment) Act 1951. This is a tribute to
the persuasive powers of the Public Health Visitor.
The number of cases on the register at the end of the year, including
those from previous years, is 2,189.
Laundry Service for Aged Incontinent Persons
The arrangements made with the Southwark Borough Council for carrying
out this service continued satisfactorily during the year.
The total number of persons receiving benefit from the scheme was
146(154), the total visits made were 2,758 (3125) and the total number of
soiled articles collected and taken to Southwark Cleansing Station was
28,412(29,159). The total weight of the laundry cleansed was 24,953 lb
(26,163 lb).
The figures given in brackets are those for the year 1961.
Home Bathing Scheme
An increasing number of aged persons is benefiting from this service
and during the year 2,400 baths were given. This is an increase of 260 over
the figure for 1961.
Holidays for the Elderly
This year Brighton was the chosen resort for the old age pensioners'
holidays. Under this scheme approximately 400 old age pensioners, all of
whom must have lived in Lambeth for the past three years, whose income is
within certain defined limits, and who have not had any other holiday for the
past three years (two in the case of pensioners over 76 years of age)
are taken on holiday for one week, on payment of the nominal sum of £1.
During March and April each pensioner who, after completing the necessary
application form, was eligible to go on holiday was seen by the Medical
Officer of Health. At this interview an assessment was made of the physical
condition of the applicant and the need recorded for any special consideration
such as ground floor accommodation, single room and diabetic injections.
April saw the issue of travel and holiday documents, and also the inevitable
cancellations caused through illness and hospital admissions.
On each of the four successive Saturdays in May parties of 60 old folk
were taken by coach to Brighton for their holiday, returning on the following
Saturday. The first party was seen off by His Worship The Mayor, the
Mayoress, Chairman of. the Public Health Committee and the Chairman of
the Lambeth Old People's Welfare Association.