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of visitors at the home. The co-operation of both the staff, in
helping with all these changes, and of the volunteers, who are
not deterred by the long walk from Hornchurch station in even
the worst weather, to bring the community to The Willows, which
can so easily feel itself cut off is very greatly appreciated. There
is much still to be done, and never enough volunteers to do
it all, but 1967 saw many good changes, and with more helpers
even more can be done in the future.
Progress in the other smaller homes run by the department
took the form of self-help rather than more outside help. It was
felt that communication between staff and residents and further
encouragement to the residents to do as much as they could
both for their new home, where they wished to, and for themselves
should be developed. A start was made by creating
residents' house committees in three of the homes, so that the
views of the residents could more easily be expressed to the
staff. The department's craft instructor spends half a day a week
in each of the small homes helping individual residents who
wish to do craft or art work of various kinds. Programmes of
activities and entertainments are arranged in consultation with
the residents, and the four homes co-operate with each other so
that the best facilities can be provided. For instance, one of the
homes suggested through its superintendent that a monthly
programme of feature films be arranged. and now every month
each home shows the same film on successive evenings. "Great
Expectations", "Doctor in the House" and similar films have
been enjoyed by residents who can no longer go to the cinema
themselves. Bingo is popular. Two of the homes now have
facilities for residents to make tea or coffee for themselves
or their visitors any time they wish. Two of the homes some
distance from shopping centres run a daily "shop" so that
people who cannot easily get out can still choose what they wish
to buy instead of always having to ask others to do all their
shopping for them. At Christmas time one of the Romford stores, in
conjunction with the Chamber of Commerce, remained open one
evening for visitors from the old people's homes, the Faringdon
Centre for the physically handicapped, and other elderly or
disabled people who would not otherwise have been able to cope
with the Christmas shopping crowds. All the Shop Assistants
gave their services, free refreshments and transport were provided
and a most welcome "shopping spree" in great comfort was made
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