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NATIONAL ASSISTANCE ACT, 1948
Section 47. Persons in Need of Care and Attention
No person was compulsorily removed to a hospital or other place
during the year. Complaints were received of aged persons living in
insanitary conditions, who, it was alleged, were not receiving adequate
care and attention. All complaints were investigated but many were
unfounded.
Generally aged persons are enabled to live alone very happily by the
willing help of other occupants of their houses. This help may consist
of bringing home the heavier shopping or by helpful encouragement in
the home. Others receive great assistance from the Home Help Service
or by the advice and guidance given by the Hornsey Old People's
Welfare Committee.
Of cases referred to the Health Department for action under the
National Assistance Act, some have become beyond the care of neighbours
though in some cases complaints are received which appear to
be motivated by the desire of other occupants of the house to obtain
more room.
The following are brief reports on four typical cases investigated
during the year.
Case A.—Letters were received from the occupants of a house in the Borough
regarding two sisters aged over 80 years who live together without adequate
care in circumstances which were alleged to be insanitary. Upon investigation
it was found that although one of the sisters never left the house she was able
to be up each day and the other sister cared for her and cooked the meals. At
the time of the visit, which was unexpected, the two old ladies had a fire lit in
the living room and were enjoying a tea cooked and prepared by themselves,
their own doctor calls fortnightly to see them. No further action was needed
by the Department.
Case B.—Complaints were received from the owner of a house regarding a
woman of approximately 80 years of age living alone in insanitary conditions.
After investigation and consultation with her doctor it was decided that this
person should be removed to an institution. She was removed to a mental
hospital under observation.
Case C.—A woman of 85 years of age who had been helped for some considerable
time but had refused admission to an Old People's home. Complaints were
received from the health visitor and the home help service that the woman was
very dirty and quite incapable of caring for herself. Her single room was dirty
and foul smelling and the home helps refused to attend her. She was apparently
in the habit of eating food which was unfit and, occasionally, raw meat or
sausages. She was sometimes incontinent but not bedridden. Her condition
deteriorated and she was admitted to hospital where she died.
Case D.—a woman of 54 years of age whose physical age was over 80 years.
Her rooms were well furnished but dirty and badly ventilated. No relatives
could be traced. The other tenants complained of objectionable smells caused
by varicose ulcers which the woman neglected. She was rather eccentric and
ignored the advice of her doctor. A few days after inspection, this person was
admitted to hospital where she died shortly afterwards.
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