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The work of the Council's Health Officer, however, is not the complete story of visits
to old people. No less than 70-80 voluntary visitors have been visiting one or two old people
regularly throughout the year. I have no hesitation in saying that old people look forward
to these visits and receive help and comfort from them. The reports I receive month by month
indicate the varied advice and help which the old people in the borough need. In addition
to this the British Red Cross Society arranges visits to some 26 old people through its members.
I received a monthly report concerning each old person visited with an indication of the state
of health and the need for any particular assistance.
During 1951 no less than 136 old people were sent away for a holiday to Margate,
Ramsgate or Herne Bay. The holiday lasted a fortnight and the parties were taken down
from the Town Hall to the holiday home by coach. These holidays took place during the
months of April, May, September and October. The total cost was £743 17s. 6d. of which
£273 11s. 8d. was recovered in contributions from the old people. It will be seen therefore that
the average cost to an individual retired person was £2 0s. 3d. Many of the people we sent
away were enjoying the first holiday they had had for many years. The arrangement for
their care was excellent and many letters of appreciation were received.
Another venture that has achieved much success has been a chiropody clinic. From the
moment this clinic commenced we have had a waiting list. Originally it appeared that we
could see some 8 to 10 people a week and we had hoped that in this way we could cope with
some 400 to 500 persons a year. Experience showed us, however, that the cases referred to
us needed not just one visit to the chiropodist but regular visits at intervals of four weeks to
two months in order to secure continuance of comfort. In fact with one session a week we
find we can care for approximately 120 to 140 individuals. No matter what the weather,
appointments were kept, and those persons who were unable to come on account of sickness
or some other reason, invariably wrote regretting their inability to attend and asking for another
appointment.
The Committee has decided to hold two clinics a week and I have no doubt but that
the demand will still exceed our capacity to meet it.
The Committee may remember that last year I referred to the fact that some old people
were found to be suffering from malnutrition and possibly anaemia induced thereby. We
advised that in our opinion many of those living alone failed to provide themselves with
adequate meals even although they were physically capable of doing so. Lack of facilities
or unwillingness to cook a meal for themselves alone was a possible cause and the Committee
commenced a scheme for assisting certain retired persons to obtain meals in the L.C.C.
restaurants in the district. The demand for this assistance was not very big and was made
difficult by the closure of the majority of the L.C.C. restaurants in the borough. Furthermore,
the vouchers, which were of the value of 6d. and could be used towards the cost of the main