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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 1950 there were 6 private homes registered in the
Borough and these provided a total of 96 beds.
These premises were inspected under the Nursing Homes
(Registration) Act, and 21 visits were made to the premises,
HOME HELP SERVICE.
This Service is administered by the Kent County Council to
whom it was transferred in 1948.
The demand for this Service continues to be very heavy—unfortunately
the number of applications still outweigh the assistance that can be
given. During 1950, the total number of requests for help exceeded
700 and approximately 85 cases per week received some assistance.
During the early part of the year there was a reduction in the
maximum number of hours that could be given to any one household
in one week. Forty hours became the maximum that could be given
in any one week instead of forty-seven hours given previously; also the
number of workers dropped to an average of 40. This fact, together
with the enormous amount of illness which occurred this year, tended to
add to the difficulties of running this very necessary Service.
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