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18
Orpington and District Tuberculosis Care Committee.
The aim of the Committee is to relieve the want, distress and
anxiety that tuberculosis may bring to a home. Visits are made
to the homes and assistance is given towards special nourishment,
fares to visit relatives in sanatoria, clothing, and in exceptional
cases, towards the cost of bed and bedding. The question of
employment and rehabilitation is also dealt with. Anything
affecting a family suffering with tuberculosis is the concern of
the Committee, and all cases should be referred to the Hon.
Secretary.
The St. John Ambulance Brigade.
The St. John Ambulance Brigade is part of the Ambulance
Department of the Grand Priory in the British Realm of the
Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem.
The objects of the Brigade are to afford holders of first aid
certificates from the St. John Ambulance Association opportunities
of meeting together for ambulance and nursing practice,
with the object of combining individual efforts for the public
advantage. To render first aid to the sick and injured on public
occasions, with the sanction of the police and other authorities,
and to maintain in readiness for such duty a body of trained
men and women.
Orpington Old People's Welfare Committee.
The work of the Old People's Welfare Committee, which
covers the whole of Orpington and District area, consists of
visiting the lonely old people and helping with their various
problems, such as accommodation, pensions, and shopping,
obtaining Home Helps under the Home Help Scheme, helping
to find vacancies in Homes for the Aged, and friendly visits to
old people in hospital. Financial help can be arranged in some
cases where the need is not covered by statutory bodies. The
Hon. Secretary of the Committee is Mr. L. C. Pearce, "Wyvis,''
Farthing Street, Downe.
Old People's Clubs.
There are eight Old People's Clubs in the Orpington area
with an approximate total membership of 800. These clubs do
much to dispel the boredom and loneliness which might otherwise
hasten the deterioration of the mental and physical health of the
elderly people. They have proved their value in giving old
people opportunities to meet their own contemporaries at a place
where they can be sure of a warm welcome and friendship. It
may well be that, in the case of a good many elderly people,
the days of the Club's meeting are red letter days in what is
otherwise a monotonous and lonely life.