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of people with a greater degree of handicap or physical or mental
frailty than can be accommodated in smaller homes, as the
numbers of staff to residents is higher, and the more open
lay-out makes it easier for wheelchairs to be used.
Early in 1967 all the bedrooms were redecorated, (the
day rooms and corridors were redecorated in 1966). Immediately
afterwards the accommodation was changed so that more women
were admitted and fewer men, the numbers changing from 86
places for women and 72 for men to 118 places for women and
40 for men. The day room separators, which had been installed
in 1964, were put into use, making separate dining and living
rooms, and by moving storage space a further small sitting
room was provided for the men. The Willows has always had
a number of voluntary groups and individual visitors willing to
help, and this programme was greatly increased. Meetings
of volunteers were held, and HOPWA (Havering Old People's
Welfare Association) now provide voluntary helpers to run a
social afternoon once a week in the largest day room and Bingo
another afternoon a week for anyone wishingto take part. Another
group under Mrs. Regan of South Hornchurch holds a social
afternoon in another day room. The Catholic Women's League
comes in on a regular basis, also from time to time other groups
especially Toc H and Rotary. One of the social workers who is
also a senior occupation therapist runs a pastimes afternoon
in one of the day rooms once a week, helped by two HOPWA
volunteers, and has been joined by the department's new Craft
Instructor who works under her and plans to extend the work
during 1968 to the men. HOPWA, through their visiting organiser,
Mrs. Earle, has compiled, with matron's help, a list of
residents who rarely if ever have a visitor, and gradually voluntary
visitors are being introduced to them, each person having if
they wish it, their own visitor, so that no one has to share — an
important consideration in a place where so many other things
have to be shared.
All this has greatly increased the number of activities the
residents can take part in or watch others doing—some of them
prefer to watch things going on rather than take an active part
themselves, as they may have got out of practice at doing things
and are now too easily tired to want to start again, or may
simply be too old. It has also greatly increased the number
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