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45
We have so far considered only old people in their
own homes. There are in the Borough four Old Peoples Homes
run by the Middlesex County Council and three voluntary
homes. These have a total accommodation of 103 and 82
residents respectively. In addition there are twelve private
homes with a total accommodation of 109 persons and
registration and supervision of these is carried out by
the Welfare Department to ensure the comfort and well
being of all residents.
It is hoped from this account that the diverse nature
of the services available can be appreciated. The immediate
needs in the future are perhaps firstly an increase in
the visiting of old people so that a really comprehensive
scheme can operate and leave no lonely old person unvisited.
The second need is not with the elderly who are incapacitated
but with those who are still capable of active work
but find that their age bars them from this. Whether
special workshops should be instituted for them or whether
their entry into normal employment should be facilitated
is open to discussion but there does seem a growing need
for some service of this nature,
MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS,
Candidates for permanent appointment to the Council's
service are required to pass a medical examination on
appointment as are manual staff for admission to the Sickness
Pay scheme of the National Joint Industrial Council
for Local Authorities Non-Trading Services.