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29
Townspeople whom it was thought might be interested in the
setting up of a Welfare Committee. At this meeting the problem
of Old People's Welfare was fully discussed and the purpose
of the Ministry of Health Circular outlined.
Resulting from this, an Executive Committee with power
to co-opt was set up. This Committee met on five occasions
during the year. At these meetings a variety of matters
appertaining to the welfare of elderly people was considered,
but in the main the Committee has been concerned with the
visiting of old people in their own homes and the provision of
" Good Neighbours Services." In this connection a panel of
visitors was formed, the members being drawn from the Committee
and voluntary organisations in the town.
It is clear that the visits, in the majority of cases, are very
much appreciated by the old people. Reports are submitted
regularly which indicate that a wide variety of assistance is
being given to mitigate the acute sense of loneliness from which
they suffer. Domestic help is supplied by the Kent County
Council and the help given is of great assistance to the old folk,
who speak very highly of the service.
Whilst, usually, a visit only is necessary, there are some
cases which are extremely difficult and illustrate the plight of
many of the old people, and a great deal of work is necessary on
the part of the Public Health Department in conjunction with
the District Officer of the Kent County Council, the voluntary
organisations, and the visitors concerned, between whom there
is close co-operation.
To illustrate this I set out below details of some of the cases
dealt with since the Committee came into being.
Case No. 1
This was the case of an elderly woman, eighty-four
years of age, owner/occupier of a bungalow, living alone.
A visit was paid to the house by the Medical Officer of
Health and Senior Sanitary Inspector when it was found
that the old lady was in a very dirty condition and in need
of attention. The house was very neglected and the bedding
in a verminous state. With the co-operation of the
Commandant of the British Red Cross Detachment, the
old lady was cleaned up, fresh clothing and bed clothes
supplied by the Red Cross Society, and a new mattress
and bolster provided by the District Officer of the Kent
County Council. The house was cleaned by Red Cross
personnel and the dirty bedding and clothing collected
and destroyed by the Health Department. To achieve