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PERSONS IN NEED OF CARE AND ATTENTION
(Sec. 47—National Assistance Act, 1948)
Every effort is made to enable old people to remain in their own
homes, and the compulsory powers under Section 47 of the National
Assistance Act, 1948, and the National Assistance (Amendment) Act
1951 are kept for use only in extreme cases where all other efforts to
help have failed.
During the year all cases reported to the department were investigated
and in no case was action taken under the compulsory powers of the
National Assistance Acts.
Following are brief notes on a few of the cases:—
Case A.—Complaint received from a neighbour concerning Miss "A" aged 84
years who lives alone in one room. On investigation she was found to be rather
dirty and her room also dirty and dilapidated. She was not bedridden and
was able to get about fairly well. Other occupants of the house fetched her
shopping. No relatives could be traced. Arrangements were made for the provision
of a home help and her condition improved.
Case B.—Complaint was received about the condition of Mr. "B" aged 79 years
who had been admitted to hospital. His only room was found to be very dirty.
On his discharge from hospital the condition of this room again rapidly became
worse. No relatives were known and the only person to care for him was his
"landlady" who was herself not in good health and whose husband was an
invalid. It was decided that Mr. "B" should be compulsorily removed to a
suitable home and application was made to the Area Welfare Officer for a vacancy.
His health suddenly deteriorated and he was admitted to hospital where he
died the same day.
Case C.—Complaint was made by other tenants of smells from the room
occupied by Miss "C" a 74 year old woman who kept many cats in an insanitary
manner. After representations from the Health Department she got rid of
some of the cats and the condition of her room showed some improvement.
Later her doctor called in the Health Department to have her moved to a
home as conditions were again very bad. The next day she collapsed and was
removed to hospital where she died shortly afterwards. Various articles of
furniture, old books and clothing were removed and destroyed and the room
cleansed.
Case D.—Mrs. "D" a woman of 88 years lived in a basement back room in very
dirty conditions and was found to be quite incapable of caring for herself. She
was incontinent and consequently her bedding was in a very bad condition.
The occupant of the upper part of the house helped but was expecting a baby
and could not do much. Mrs. "D" was quite willing to be removed to an old
people's home and arrangements were made on the application of the Health
Department.
Case E.—Mrs. "E" a woman of over 80 years of age lives alone in one room
on the hall floor. Numerous complaints have been made by the owner of the property,
who lives upstairs, that she is dirty and is not receiving proper care and
attention.
On investigation it was found that the Secretary of the Old People's Welfare
Committee was visiting regularly and the complaints were not justified but in
order to remove any possibility of a nuisance developing it was recommended
that the home help attendance should be increased to 6ix days a week.
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