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weakness who had 24 steps from flat to street to negotiate. He was
awarded 30 points towards a Ground Floor flat, although on other
grounds of accommodation he had obtained only 5 points. In another
instance, a man of 70, whose elderly wife was confined to bed with
arthritis, was also awarded 30 points for a ground floor flat, though
on other grounds he had obtained only one additional point. In a
third case, a single woman with rheumatoid arthritis, who had to
carry all water up two flights of stairs from bathroom to kitchen,
was awarded 30 points for a ground floor flat, though only 7 points
had been awarded on other grounds. There were two other similar
cases, but in the remaining 12 recommended ground floor flat accommodations
there were considerable additional points up to 85.
From the medical causes, it is seen that the applications arise
from the type of housing used by old people and children, immobilising
the former on top floors and providing too frequent illness for the
latter in small flats.
Private Nursing Homes.
Rising costs, difficulties of recruitment of nursing and domestic
staff, transfer of surgery and midwifery to the hospitals, have everywhere
during post-war years led to the closure of one Nursing Home
after another. Beckenham is no exception, and in June it was unfortunately
necessary to report the closure of the VVoodcote Nursing Home
12, Westgate Road, and a Nursing Home at 54, The Avenue, Beckenham.
The former Nursing Home was the largest in the borough and
had been registered for 26 years, during which time, as many local
doctors know, it had provided a very valuable service for the borough.
In latter years the beds had been used more particularly for the treatment
of chronic sick or senile patients. On the closure of the Home
the patients or their relatives had to find accommodation, according
to means, in other Homes ; and for three patients the District Officer
found accommodation in County Old Persons Homes.
Care of Elderly Persons.
Previous reports have referred to various ways by which authorities
within the limits of their statutory powers, and voluntary committees
without these restrictions, combine in the Borough to provide as
comprehensive a service as possible for old people.
Admission to hospital is as for all illness arranged by the family
doctor through the Admissions Officer for acute emergencies, and in
the case of the chronic sick in a similar way after consultation with the
Geriatric Consultant or a member of his staff. This is a hospital
service in which the greatest economic use of available nursing staff
is determined by medical and social priorities. There is a lack of
beds for male chronic sick patients in this area.
The needs of old people are best determined by visiting them ;
surveys of this character are being carried out by health visitors.
Proper housing accommodation is the first need for the majority ;
there is a particular need for one-room unfurnished flatlets, though
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