View report page

much of their time and effort towards the comfort of our old folk.
With regard to housing, a start has been made by the Corporation in association
with the Essex County Council to provide purpose-built accommodation for
old people at Lovelace Gardens where the following 22 units of accommodation
have been provided, viz:-
6 Two-bedroom bungalows (including that of the Warden)
12 Double-bed sitters
4 Single-bed sitters
Each dwelling is provided with an emergency warning bell-push connected to
the Warden's bungalow, and there is a communal meeting room for the use of the
old folk and their friends.
Since this scheme was commenced, proposals have been made for a similar
scheme to be undertaken at the Mayesbrook estate where the County Council will
not only be co-operating in the provision of purpose-built dwellings, but will also
be erecting as part of their welfare service, an old persons' home.
The Barking Old People's Welfare Committee continues to give active help to
old people in the town particularly through its clubs and its meals service. In cool
nection with the latter, approximately 1 million vouchers to the value of approximately
£40,000 were issued during the year and, in addition, the meals on wheels
service continued to operate on behalf of homebound old folk. The meals service
is now a well established feature of this town and I am sure it is one which has
done much to maintain the nutrition and well-being of our senior citizensl
The financial support given to this Committee by the Borough Council was,
for the year under review, nearly £44,000.
During July 1961, we were extremely fortunate in being able to recruit to the
public chiropody service, an officer who was prepared to do domiciliary work which
means that the special needs of homebound old people are being catered for This
officer has had many years' experience of this type of work and during the winter
months her case load has been fairly heavy but is somewhat 1ighter during the summer
months when old people are encouraged, if possible, to visit a clinic for
chiropody treatment.
Co-operation with the County Welfare Department has be excellent and much
appreciated.
ESTABLISHMENTS FOR MASSAC
AND SPECIAL TREATMENT
Licences were issued during the year in respect of four establishments which
are governed by the Borough's bye-laws.
LAUNDRY SERVICE
Your laundry service for the chronic sick and elderly has again proved invalueable
and during 1961, 53 cases were assisted regularly. The involved laundering
of 12,127 articles.
Page 12