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69
and bedridden for a small charge. The W.V.S. help with the supply
of clothing and the Central Aid Society will supply bedding, clothing,
kitchen equipment and curtaining to worthy cases. A number of
elderly folk enjoyed a holiday at Bexhill arranged at a reduced rate
by the Old People's Welfare Committee.
The Ealing Council have always taken a great interest in the
care of Old People in its boundary and grants have been made to
voluntary bodies who have schemes working to this end. In addition,
the British Red Cross Society have special facilities for the care
of the aged. Photographs in this report show the buildings that
are principally dealing with the residential facilities for the old
people.
THE CARE OF THE ELDERLY
(The "elderly" covering all those persons coming into the
Old Age Pension age-groups).
It is common knowedge that the proportion of the population
in this group has been changing for some years, and the position
can be shown thus: ??? population ??? aged.
In actual figures, it can be said that in 1900 there were 1½
million, in 1946 there were 6½ million, and in 1951 there will be
9½ million old people.
Another aspect of this increasing expectation of life is that
whereas in 1891 some 18% reached the age of 75 years, in 1945
the proportion rose to 43%.
The need for hospital beds for the elderly has been estimated
at 1½ to 2 beds for 1,000 population (for Ealing, 360 beds).
The commonest complaints of the elderly are: Rheumatism
55%; Bronchitis 40%; Pain in the feet 40%; Frequency or
difficulty in passing water 30%. Three out of four women over
85 have giddy spells, 4% of elderly at home are mentally abnormal,
and 15% of elderly at home have slight mental aberrations.