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52
bourne (Kent) Women's Institutes who provided tea and entertainment; and the
Rotary Club of Brixton which paid for all three coaches. Again, every effort
was made to offer these outings to people who lead restricted lives because of
physical or mental infirmity and there is no doubt that they were greatly appreciated
and of considerable value. The Association thanks the members of the
Women's Institutes, the Rotary Club and Toc H, without whose co-operation and
help this type of service would be impossible.
Holidays
400 old people went on the Holiday organised by the Lambeth Borough
Council through its Scheme and 7 old people were sent away under the Infirm
Holiday Scheme.
A total of 53 women savea with the Association for two weeks holiday
with the Women's Holiday Fund and 12 also went away at Christmas
Goad Neighbour and Sitter-in Service
This, like that of the Boarding Out Service has only just started. A part-time
Day Care Officer was appointed in January. For a month her duties were primarily
to understand the functions of the service and for this reason she spent
some time with Mrs. Paynton who pioneered this scheme in St. Pancras. We
would like to express our appreciation of the help given by Mrs. Paynton in this
direction.
The functions of "Good Neighbours" vary considerably from case to case
according to the type of infirmity, living conditions and other help available. In
addition to seeing that the old people are safe, befriending them and ensuring
that all is well, they shop, collect pensions, light and attend to fires, check
gas, prepare a light meal, call a doctor or welfare worker, get prescriptions,
help tidy or make beds, empty commodes, persuade the old people to wash, to
change personal and household linens and arrange laundry. They give the old
people the security of knowing that there will be one person constantly in and
out on whom they can rely, and to whom they can confide their worries and
who will be their main contact with the outside world. Thi s security can have a
tremendous effect upon morale.
The functions of "Sitters-In" are fairly clear cut They relieve the strain
on relatives simply by staying in the house with the aged and infirm person
while the relatives go out, free from worry. They provide companionship, may
prepare light meals and undertake simple tasks concerned with the comfort and
welfare of the old person. Old people liable to fall may need support when going
to the lavatory and so on.
Both "Sitters-In" and "Good Neighbours" appointed under the Day Care
Service are paid. They are used only when there is no other adequate support,
and when the regular and continued care necessary is beyond what anyone will
or can be expected to undertake on a voluntary basis for any length of time.