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35
inopportune at the present time to endeavour to comply with the
suggestion of free washing with hot water, having regard to the fact
that the conveniences were not provided with a hot water system. The
committee have in mind modernising one or more of the conveniences,
and at the end of the year the matter was still under consideration.
Old people
The Council continued to make grants to organisations in the
borough which are carrying out work for old people, whether by
recreational facilities or by the provision of meals. A sum of £1,500
was included in the annual estimates for the year 1950-51 for such
organisations as accepted the Council's conditions and to assist any
other such voluntary organisations as might be established during
that year. Reports were made to the public health committee giving
details of the work undertaken by the voluntary organisations and as
a result grants were made as follows:— £
Lewisham Old People's Welfare Association 850
Lewisham Darby and Joan Club 250
Over 60's Club 50
St. Mark's Old Folk's Club 50
Talbot Settlement Old People's Club 25
Good Companions Personal Service 25
This left a sum of money available for new clubs which might
qualify for grant, but by the end of the calendar year no further
applications had been made.
It is hoped that such old people's organisations as can will not
only provide the usual afternoon's recreation with a little tea, but will
also make arrangements to provide lunch either on the day the club
meets or another day. To this end the Lewisham Old People's Welfare
Association is prepared to cooperate by conveying the meals in bulk
from the central kitchen, where they are obtained, to the luncheon
club. Nutrition is a large factor in the health and wellbeing of the
aged, and it seems likely that many of the minor troubles which
particularly affect the aged could be prevented, or at any rate postponed
for some years, by better nutrition. The tendency of the old person
who lives alone is to eat either too little or too unvaried food. It is
just a bit too much trouble for him (or sometimes her) to cook a meal for
the one person. Furthermore, the actual amount in calories of food
required in old age is considerably less than in middle age, and these
factors, together with reduced appetite and available money, often
lower the old person's diet to below the danger mark. By ensuring
that a group of old people have at least one good hot meal a week a
proportion of them will be saved from getting beyond this danger line.
Others of them, of course, in addition to the one hot meal provided
at the club, will obtain hot meals on other days of the week by cooking
them themselves or by help from neighbours, etc., but the luncheon
club remains a highly desirable facility in the care of old people. There
is an excellent luncheon club at the Lewisham Darby and Joan Club and
this has been present from the opening of that Club. In August, 1950
a luncheon club was started at the Old Folk's club held at St. Mark's