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7
Care of Old People.
Six hundred and sixteen old people were visited by one of the women sanitary inspectors. The
frequency of the visits varied according to individual needs and, although sixty-four were married
couples, the great majority lived alone and many required constant observation. The domestic help
service of the London County Council continued to give valuable assistance.
Special Laundry Service.—Under the scheme for laundering bed linen and clothing of acutely ill and
incontinent old people, sixty-three cases were dealt with during 1955. Fifty-three of these were new
and each was the subject of a certificate given by the Medical Officer of Health under the provisions
of section 122 of the Public Health (London) Act, 1936. The work is done by the Council's staff at the
Public Health Department laundry at 217, Lisson Grove, N.W.8. The service has been in operation
since February, 1950, and its value is recognised by all who are concerned with the nursing of the aged
in their own homes. Some of the old people who were assisted were awaiting admission to
hospital but the scheme also helped to make it possible for others to continue to be cared for at home.
Some required the service for short periods only but others needed assistance for a long time.
Arrangements have now been made to extend the scheme to deal also with the effects of old people
whose persons or whose rooms are found to be very dirty or verminous.
Cleansing.—Under the provisions of section 43 of the London County Council (General Powers)
Act, 1953, sanitary authorities are empowered to make arrangements for cleansing old people at their
own request or with their consent, in their own homes, if necessary. There has, so far, been little or
no demand for home bathing but, as was mentioned in the last annual report, in December, 1954, an
experimental scheme was started for taking suitable old people to the Council's bathing centre at
Lisson Grove. Here they are bathed under good conditions in warm and convenient surroundings,
their clothing, if necessary, being treated at the same time. There are two sessions per week and four
or five people are dealt with at each. They are brought to the centre from their homes in an ambulance
of the sitting case type which has been fitted with extra seating, arm rests, special ventilation and a
ramp which makes it easier to get the less active into the vehicle. The arrangements are supervised
by one of the women sanitary inspectors who is also a State Registered Nurse and the bathing is done
by trained assistants. The experiment shows signs of being very successful and justifies being extended
as soon as practicable.
St. Marylebone Old People's Welfare Association.
The Executive Committee of the Association (Chairman—Mrs. L. Fewster; Hon. Secretary—
Miss M. K. C. Macintosh, Room 103, Town Hall, St. Marylebone, W. 1), has kindly provided the following
information on the work carried out during 1955 :—
Meals on Wheels.—The service is operated by the W.V.S. five days a week. The new van and
arrangements for obtaining the meals from the staff canteen of Messrs. Spencer, Turner and Boldero
Ltd., worked smoothly, 5,687 meals being delivered during the year. The St. Marylebone Housewives
Club continued their voluntary service of washing up.
The W.V.S. Luncheon Club.—The Meals on Wheels van transports the meals for this Club at
which 6,237 meals were served. The total membership is now 36, the W.V.S. having arranged a
second sitting to take some of the old people who were displaced when the Cookshop of the St.
Marylebone Housing Association was closed down.
Clubs.—Each of the seven Darby and Joan Clubs has now developed its own distinct character
and is no longer just an assemblage. Their activities all include Christmas parties, summer outings,
and jumble sales to help raise funds. Their organisers are very hard-worked enthusiasts. Anyone
who heard the singing and laughter of club members in Wilfred Pickles' " Have a Go" programme
for Newstead (the St. Marylebone Old People's Home) in November must have realised from the
delighted reaction of these old people how they respond if someone will only bother about them.
Home Visiting.—The monthly Visitors' Meetings, under the guidance of Miss Sharp, continued
to be an important feature of our work. They are attended by our own 26 voluntary visitors, and
by liaison officers from the visiting groups of some of the churches. Regular friendly visits to lonely
house-bound old people may be an unspectacular form of personal service but, in so far as
it proves to them that they are still remembered and cared about, it can make a contribution to
mental health which could equal the contribution to physical health made by the Home Helps'
Service—than which no higher praise could be given. The Association would warmly welcome
new volunteers.
Home Chiropody.—The fourth monthly round, which was started in January, enabled us to clear
the waiting list and keep pace with demand until the winter, when some of the older patients from
the foot clinic are temporarily placed on the home service. A further 56 patients (7 men and 49
women) were added during the year making a total of 180 on the list in December. In all, 516 treatments
were given, five free, ten at a reduced rate and the remaining 501 at the full fee of 2s. Twentyseven
patients voluntarily made some additional contribution.