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(f) Local Services provided by Voluntary Organisations.
1. Homeless Children. There are several voluntary institutions in
the district which provide excellent care for orphans and
homeless children.
2. Homes for the Aged. The County Council remains responsible
for the care of old people, but it is extremely difficult to obtain
accommodation in homes for the aged. The S.O.S. Society
opened a Hostel in 1944 at 75, Bromley Road, Beckenham,
which has met a real need and The Beckenham Old People's
Committee has helped in many ways to provide extra comforts
and furnishings for the occupants of this Hostel. The Salvation
Army provide a Home for the aged in Crystal Palace Park
Road, Anerley.
3. Private Nursing Homes. Most of the premises used for this
purpose were damaged by bombing and had to be closed. At
the end of 1949 there were 7 private homes registered in the
Borough and these provided a total of 102 beds.
These premises were inspected under the Nursing Homes
(Registration) Act, and 11 visits were made to the premises.
Domestic Help Service.
This Service was transferred to the Kent County Council on July
5th, 1948.
On the 1st January, 1949, for administrative purposes, there was
an amalgamation of the Beckenham and Penge Services under one
Organiser who is established at the Town Hall, Beckenham.
During 1949, there was a total of 744 applications for assistance
received, and an average of 80 cases per week were covered by 45
workers who gave from the minimum of 3 hrs. to the maximum of 47
hrs. per week, according to the needs of the household.
There has been a great increase in the general demand for domestic
help, particularly in respect of old people and tuberculosis cases, as
Hospitals and Doctors have grown aware of the importance and need
of this service. Unfortunately, however, the demand tends to outweigh
the service which can be given up to the present time. The West
Wickham and Coney Hall area is particularly badly served ; owing
to the difficulties of distance and transport, volunteers are few.