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45
HOME HELP SERVICE
I am indebted to Miss Heath, Home Help Supervisor, for the
following report:-
The value of the work of the Home Help Service to the whole
community is often overlooked, particularly when statistics are
the only written evidence of the year's work.
To name a few of the workers in the social field, who have
come to respect and rely on the Home Help Service will show more
clearly where the Home Help fits into the pattern of social work
today. The family doctor, the health visitor, the district
nurse, the domiciliary midwife, the hospital almoner, the probation
officer, the public health inspector, the National
Assistance Board officer, the N.S.P.C.C. officer, the school
attendance officer and so on. All are dependent for the success
of their efforts on the acceptance of their ideas and advice.
Unfortunately, these are often ignored through lack of interest
or misunderstanding. The Home Help who is received into the
home as a friend and companion can, by her example, encouragement
and understanding, often persuade the patient to carry out the
advice and suggestions of the professional advisers.
At the present time, approximately 90% of the Home Helps are
mainly concerned with the care of the aged. The efforts of
these Helpers to provide something beyond the necessary domestic
assistance cannot be fully recorded, but one thing is abundantly
clear that they are all truly concerned for the well-being and
happiness of their patients.
Towards the end of the year, a scheme to encourage home
confinements was introduced. The charge for a full-time Home
Help for home confinement was reduced to £2.0.0. per week, a
pro-rata for part-time service. The cost therefore of a fulltime
Home Help for two weeks is covered entirely by the National
Insurance home confinement grant. The scheme which will run for
a trial period of twelve months is obviously popular but observations
of its effectiveness as a method of reducing the
demand for accommodation in local maternity units can only be
made at the end of the trial period.
Supplementary Schemes
Washing Service
The washing service for the chronic sick and elderly where
home conditions are unsuitable for washing has proved both useful
and successful; an average of 25 bundles are accepted every