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WHAT IS NEEDED
There are four types of accommodation for elderly people needed.
(a) A house in which each tenant has a bed sitting room with a communal dining room
and kitchen. Each house has a "house mother" who is resident and responsible for the persons
living in the house.
This type of "home" would cater for the frail ambulant who needs a little oversight
and the companionship of others.
(b) A house with rooms converted into small self-contained flatlets with a small
kitchen unit incorporated in the room. Each person is self-supporting and brings his or her
own furniture. They share lavatory and bathroom and also have a resident "house mother" with
genera] supervising duties over the house as a whole.
(c) An increased proportion of small flatlet accommodation incorporated in new housing
schemes. (Nationally one person in every 9,2 persons is over 65 years of age, whilst locally
one person in every 7,5 exceeds this age. This proportion is bound to increase with a lower
birth rate and the removal from the Borough of young couples).
(d) Ad hoc flatlet units for old people but not in large isolated communities.
Schemes (a) and (b) would offer immediate alleviation of the problem whereas schemes
(c) and (d) should be constantly borne in mind when planning on a long term policy.
Of schemes (a) and (b) the latter offers that degree of independence which most old
people cherish.
HOW IT MAY BE PROVIDED
The ultimate responsibility for providing for the general housing needs in the Borough,,
including those of old people rests with the Local Authority. Small flats and bungalows
for old people are now provided but there is no provision for "homes" in which elderly
people may live in independent existence and yet have some supervising care and companionship.
Subsequently the Council approved that houses should be purchased and adapted for
the use of old people and at the time of writing three houses two in Bushwood and one in
Forest Drive West have been purchased: two of the properties are in the process of adap
tion. and one other has been completed and is occupied by seven elderly people together
with a house mother.
The accommodation provides a separate bed sitting room for each tenant and includes
a communal toilet and bathroom and a communal kitchen on each floor where two persons share
a gas cooker and stainless steel sink but have individual cupboards supplied for them.
Doubts have been expressed of the wisdom of providing communal kitchens but in the short
time I have had to observe the tenants in their new home in Bushwood, it is apparent that
they have settled down well, are perfectly happy in this type of accommodation and are
enjoying the companionship of their fellow tenants.
CARE OF THE AGED
In June 1957 the Leytonstone (No. 10) Hospital Group Management Committee invited the
Council to appoint representatives to attend a joint meeting of health and welfare authori
ties, together with other local interested bodies and persons in the district from which
patients are admitted to hospital for the purpose of
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