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47
It is of the utmost importance that our Visitors should be well informed
about all the services available to old people, and they have attended short
courses arranged by the London Council of Social Service, in conjunction with
the National Old People's Welfare Council.
Friendly Visiting
It is becoming more evident that, with the increase of visits made by our
Welfare Visitors, there is a tremendous need for friendly visiting. Our Visitors
task is to try to meet any needs of the old people; to solve their problems, to
help them to enjoy the closing years of their lives, and in many cases, to rehabilitate
them and to bring them back into the Community from which, through
age, disability, or loneliness, they have withdrawn. Quite often this means
visiting daily for some time to support the old person in his or her time of need,
but when the problem is solved the Visitor is no longer able to spend so much
time, as there are many more waiting for this specialised attention. This is the
time for the friendly visitor to take over. Sometimes we are asked to visit
someone, and when the Visitor arrives, she finds the old person is just lonely.
One old lady said "I want someone to come to tea" - she was not asking for help,
she wanted to give. But she was very lonely because no one came to tea. We
all know how we enjoy the friend who "pops" in whenever she has a minute to
spare, especially if she brings all the interesting items of local news, and how
much more does this apply to someone whose life has become restricted through
age. If everyone who reads this report would "adopt" an old person, this wou d
make a tremendous contribution towards solving the problem of loneliness in old
age. The old person adopted may never meet the family, but through photographs,
and interesting chatter about its various members would come to feel a part of it
and would no longer be isolated and shut away.
Meals-on-Wheels
In the past year 886,636 meals were taken to people in their own homes by the
Meals-on-wheels service. 30,862 of these were delivered by the Women's Voluntary
service in the southern part of the Borough. The remaining 55,774 were supplied by
the Association's six vans in the northern section. The largest number of people
served on any one day 416.
Over the year L.O.P.W.A. has had a gradual rise in the demand for meals,
but the startling increase experienced during the winter '62-'63 was not repeated.
The milder weather could have meant less illness and enabled more old people to
to manage for themselves. In these circumstances it was not necessary to
Purchase a further vehicle during the year, so it was decided to exchange the
oldest van for a new one. In such an essential service it is vital that transport is
always available and vans must be kept in perfect running order.
The Association realises that the meals staff gives more than a meal to their
customers. Sometimes they are almost the only contact with the outside world
and their daily call is eagerly awaited. Often odd jobs are undertaken by the
drivers and escorts in their own time, such as haircutting and needlework.
Visits during the long Bank Holidays have been made by some of the staff, and