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44
The Laundry Service for the Incontinent is perhaps
the most appreciated of the services offered by the Health
Department. The number of old folks thus helped is usually
about 45 at any one time and it solves for them a problem
which would otherwise be insoluble.
The prevention of accidents is at all times the con
cern of those working for the elderly and no opportunity
is lost to give practical advice in this sphere. In addi
tion during the year the Borough participated in a can
paign initiated by the Royal Society for the Prevention
of Accidents and a full account of this valuable work is
given elsewhere in the Report.
In addition to the services that the Council is able
to provide itself it has powers to give grants to voluntary
organisations. Under this arrangement the British
Red Cross Society runs a Meals on Wheels service and the
Ealing Council of Social Service has begun a Chiropody
Service. Between its commencement in June and the end of
the year this has provided regular chiropody for 35 persons
and it is hoped to extend this several fold It is
sometimes not realised that the simple task of cutting
one's toe nails becomes a problem to the infirm. They
also arranged a week's summer holiday at Southsea for 217
old people at a nominal charge of £1 Is. Od. The beneficial
effect to health and morale of a holiday can well
be imagined. This work done with such enthusiasm is of
the greatest value.
Much other voluntary work is also done thus there
are 15 Old Peoples Clubs in Paling with memberships from
60 to 150 where weekly meetings for tea are held and a
wide variety of functions such as concerts parties and
outings to the circus are arranged. Financial help is
given to these by several organisations in the Borough
and assistance is received from the churches of all denominations.
Visiting of sick members is arranged by these
Clubs to augment that done hy other voluntary bodies.
Visiting, home nursing and the loan of medical equipment
is another part of the British Red Cross Society s
contribution to the old people s welfare in the Borough,
The value of the Laundry Service has been noted and
mention should be made of the allied voluntary services,
the mending of garments by the Ealing Council of Social
Service assisted by the Ealing Townswomen's Guild and the
Catholic Womens League.