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Kent Council of Social Service, to provide comforts for
patients, and their dependents, suffering from tuberculosis.
In the interests of the prevention of the spread of
infection, a Lending Library was opened to supply books to
patients. The Council provided a room for the accomodation
of the books.
Occupational Therapy is part of the service given by
the Care Committee, and a variety of hand crafts have been
taken up by the patients.
The Council took the initiative in the setting up of the
Committee which has proved well worth while, and much
good work has been done.
WELFARE OF OLD PEOPLE.
Extreme difficulty was still being experienced in 1951
in getting old people admitted to hospital who were ill and in
varying degrees of destitution. Local Hospital Management
Committees had plans for increasing the number of beds for
old people, but the position had not improved.
A Council resolution forwarded to the Dartford and
Woolwich Committees stressed the serious view taken in this
matter, and urged them to take all possible steps to alleviate
the position. I think it can be said that the position is, at
the present stage, a little better.
Many old people living alone are finding themselves
in difficulties at the present time, particularly when they are
ill and unable to take care of themselves.
Old people need help in many directions. This
includes the provision of home nursing, domestic help and the
help of the National Assistance Board in regard to extra bedding,
clothing. They also need help with their shopping and
in getting to and from hospital when this is necessary. The
following are a few typical cases in which help was given
during the year :—
Case No. 1. This was a case of an old man aged 86 years
who had been living alone since the death of his wife, in very
bad conditions. The home had become extremely dirty, the
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