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understanding the old people settled down again with just an occasional
friendly visit to ensure that everything was all right. But in many
other cases a lot of time and hard work is needed to straighten out a
difficult situation. A list of a number of these applications taken at
random gives some idea of the nature of the requests for help received
over the past twelve months.
Meals-on-Wheels
Convalescence
Holidays
Surgical Equipment
Tracing Missing Relatives
Reuniting Families
Transport
Escorts
Legal Matters
Help with Removals
Radio
Moving dangerous meters
Clothing and Bedding
Hospital Visiting
Illness Accidents
Chiropody
Religion and Consolation
Letter Writing
Occupational Therapy
Chimney Sweeping
Housing and Homes
Cleaning
Fuel
Furniture
Employment
Social Interests
Domestic Quarrels
Care of Pets
Friendly Visits
General Care
Mobile Library Service
Applications come from varied sources and all day long the telephone
at St. Alban's Hall is ringing doctors, hospital almoners, police,
relatives, neighbours, employers, landlords, caretakers, clergy and
religious organisations, L.C.C. departments, Borough Council, Government
departments etc., all asking for help for some old person or couple
in need or trouble. And it can be said once again this year "not one
application for help has been refused".
One afternoon during the very cold spell, a request came from a
neighbour of an old man who had just heard that his wife, in hospital,
was sinking. He was too infirm to make his own way to the hospital;
could we take him? Already the car was out on an errand of mercy, and
there were four more such journeys waiting to be done. However the neighbour
was told "Yes, we would take him but it might not be till late evening
Eventually the car arrived at the old man's door at 9.45 p.m. and he
was allowed to sit with his wife for an hour. When the driver of the
car arrived at the porter's gate of the hospital she was met with the
remark "What!" You here again, don't you ever go home". While there
is an urgent human need the Old People's Welfare is always on duty.