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to improve the circumstances of the person concerned. It is only in rare
instances, that action is taken to compel admission to an old persons'
home. Indeed, a comparatively small number of the old people reported
to the Department are recommended for admission to a Home as by
proper use of the voluntary and official services it is usually possible to
help them to continue to live in their own homes in reasonable conditions.
The following are brief notes relating to the only case in which compulsory
action was taken during 1956.
Mrs. W., an old lady over 90 years of age, had been receiving home
help assistance for some time. A report was received from the home
help attending her that her condition was deteriorating, and that she had
taken to defaecating in the back garden. Mrs. W. was becoming senile,
eccentric and forgetful, and her general practitioner reported that he
had found the gas taps left on with the gas not lighted. Attempts were
made to persuade her to go into a home but without success, and it
became necessary for her own safety to ask the Health Committee for
authority to apply to the Court for a removal order.
The Order was granted and Mrs. W. was removed to a County Council
Welfare Home, where she died ten days later.
MASSAGE AND SPECIAL TREATMENT
Any premises in the Borough used or represented as being used or
intended to be used for the reception or treatment of persons requiring
massage or special treatment must be licensed. The treatments are
defined as:—
(a) massage, manicure or chiropody; or
(b) electric treatment or radiant heat light electric vapour or other
baths for therapeutic treatment; or
(c) other similar treatment;
Following is a summary of the 20 premises which are licensed under
the Act:—
Massage 6
Chiropody 18
Electrical treatment 5
Other similar treatment 4
Four members of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy also practise
in the Borough.
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