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increased to 820 and in the week ended 31st December. 1957 reached 1,171 new claims.
In the Borough of Leyton there was an approximate increase of 60% in the deaths due
to respiratory diseases in the four week period including and following the fog.
HOMES FOR THE ELDERLY
In February 1957 I submitted to the Public Health Committee, a Report regarding homes
for the elderly, and I set out hereunder relevant extracts from the Report.
Since I assumed office at Leyton I have had referred to me a number of cases by the
health visiting staff, Public Health Inspectors and Domestic Help Organiser in which I have
had to determine whether action should be taken under Section 47,. National Assistance Act,
1948. On visiting these cases it is pathetic to see the breakdown that has occurred in the
person's health and the contributory cause of these breakdowns is invariably inadequate
housing accommodation. The Public Health Committee, as a preventive service, cannot ignore
this growing problem.
The problem patients are invariably to be found in a first-floor back addition room
to which he or she has been banished by the owner-occupier, who. because he needs accommodation
for his growing family, does all he can to make life awkward for the sub tenants,
in the hope that they will find alternative accommodation, and we find these frail, ambulant
old people so scared of being a nuisance that they hesitate to come out of their room to
attend to the most elementary of human needs or to obtain water or coal.
The sub tenant in many cases had previously had two or three rooms, but is gradually
coerced to move into one. With them they wish to take all their treasures in the way of
furniture clothing and the usual accumulation of sentimental mementos that mean so much
to the individual. We therefore find that the room is so overcrowded that it is impractic
able for it to be properly cleansed. All washing preparation of meals and sleeping are
done in the one room but that in itself is not so bad. What is more distressing is that
the occupant is lonely and feels unwanted. The Health Visitor calls but infrequently, and
the Domestic Help may be in attendance but with so small a place her services cannot
often be used. These housing conditions make it particularly difficult for old and young
to maintain happy relationships, and it is even more complicated when there are three
generations living under one roof.
There are those elderly people who, whilst capable of maintaining an independent
existence, require help because they have continued to live in a house or flat now too
large for them to look after and being also alone in a home once shared with others
become lonely and depressed.
THE DEMAND
How many cases are there in the Borough at the present time who would benefit from
alternative accommodation of the types enumerated hereunder? We have on our register of
old people almost one thousand cases. Of these 387 live alone 151 are house bound and
329 have a limited mobility. These are cases which have been brought to our notice how
ever there are many more of whom we have no knowledge but probably only a minority
would move into such accommodation as is described later.
Re housing them in small labour saving flatlets in close contact with others
would save them from deteriorating into the problem with which we so often have to deal
in services for the elderly. In Leyton this type of alternative accommodation has been
lacking and it is in an endeavour to meet this need that the following proposals have
been formulated.
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