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IV
Welfare of the Elderly
The eleventh annual report of the Southwark Old People's
Welfare Committee prepared by the Organising Secretary, Miss
Doris M. Beer, A.I.S.W., M.R.I.P.H.H. is a much more ambitious
document than in former years, and with its illustrations gives
an excellent picture of the work for old people which was carried
on at St. Albans Hall during the year. Extracts from Miss Beer's
report are reproduced at the end of this report and it will be
seen that an average of no fewer than 9000 meals per month were
served either in the restaurant or in the luncheon clubs, or
delivered to the homes of old people as Meals on Wheels. During
May, the workshop for the elderly was opened and since that
time those taking part have benefited in happiness and rehabilitation;
The chiropody clinic and the holidays by the sea are very
important functions of the Old People's Welfare Committee. The
year under review saw the inception of the special scheme financed
by the Borough Council, for old people to have a holiday free
of charge, apart from a token payment of one guinea.
In addition to the very valuable work which is being done
for those old people well enough to attend St. Albans Hall, it
is pleasing to note that special attention is being given to
the house-bound who, thanks to the provision of transport, have
been taken to and from St. Albans Hall as well as on various
outings.
Old people who have deteriorated physically, and mentally,
and who are not receiving for one reason or another the care
and attention which they require, and which is their due, are
constantly coming to the notice of the Medical Officer of Health
through the general practitioners, relatives, the Public Health
Inspectors, the Home Help Organiser, the District Nurses, the
Old People's Welfare Association, as well as from other sources.
The question of compulsory removal very frequently arises in
regard to this group. While not hesitating to take action where
this is absolutely necessary, the Medical Officer of Health
endeavours to avoid compulsion if this is at all possible. If
he does not initiate action under Section 47 of the National
Assistance Act, 1948 or under the National Assistance (Amendeat)
Act,. 1951, then the Medical Officer of Health must ensure
that the old person in question receives all the services and
daily supervision which are necessary. Very often an old person
who does not wish to go into hospital or an old person's home
also does not wish to take advantage of such domiciliary services
as, for example, the Home Help Service, the District Nursing
Service or the incontinent laundry service. To persuade the
oid person to accept domiciliary services or to enter hospital
or a home voluntarily may be time consuming.