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32
CARE OF THE ELDERLY
1. General
The work done by the Council on the care of the elderly has increased
so much in recent years that it now justifies a separate section
in this report. The "elderly" for administrative purposes are regarded
as men over the age of 65 and women over the age of 60.
In the 1951 census there were 9,508 men and 21,199 women in these
age groups, making a total number of 30, 707 out of a total population
of 227,576, being equivalent to 14 percent. In the 1961 census these
figures were 10,177, 24,052, 34,229, 221,753 and 16 percent respectively,
thus showing a 3,500 increase in the elderly.
The number of old people resident in the borough is likely to go
on increasing for some years, although recent forecasts by statistical
experts has thrown a rather different light on the probable future
proportion of old people in the population over the whole country.
At one time it was thought that this would go on increasing until the
end of the century but the unexpected increase in the birth rate over the
last few years has indicated that in fact the proportion of the elderly,
after rising slowly in the next decade, will probably drop. Nevertheless
the problem remains a large one and the care of the elderly has thus
become an increasing factor in the work of the Public Health Department.
2. Powers available
Until 1962 the metropolitan boroughs had very limited powers
with regard to carrying out this work, and apart from a few minor
more or less indirect duties in connection with the elderly, their power
was limited to making grants to those voluntary organisations which
provided meals or recreation for old people. The Borough Council
took full advantage of this, as will have been seen in my previous
annual reports, and apart from that made to some twenty voluntary
clubs of varying size and complexity, a very large grant, increasing
each year, has been made to the Lewisham Old People's Welfare Association,
which is the main coordinating organisation for old people in the
borough. The power to make grants was contained in the National
Assistance Act, 1948, but last year there was passed the National Assistance
Act 1948 (Amendment) Act, 1962, which empowered local
authorities, as an alternative to giving grants to voluntary organisations,
to carry out similar work directly themselves.
3. Direct work
The Council's direct work in the care of the elderly is commented
on in the following paragraphs:
(a) The Saville
Details of the Saville premises in Lewisham High Street which
were opened in October 1961 as a centre for various activities for old
people, were set out in my last year's annual report. The Saville had
been purchased and started under other powers then available to the
Council, which powers could include certain things for the welfare of
the elderly. Activities at the Saville increased during the year and at
the end of the year the following was the timetable of activities as far
as old people were concerned, this being in addition to the work at the