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64
up of such a relationship takes a long time and involves regular
visiting over a long period. During this time the social worker
helps the individual with the emotional problems of ageing, and
the practical difficulties which accompany it. The worker knows
where help is available, and can easily call upon the domiciliary
services (e.g. home helps, meals on wheels, etc.) and voluntary
bodies to support the elderly in their own homes.
29. There may, however, come a time when it is neither practical
nor desirable for an old person to continue to live in the community,
and the greatest adjustment has to be made when the time comes
for an old person to be admitted to residential care. The social
worker may have been helping the client over a long period to
come to this decision, and should be able to ease the transfer from
home to residential accommodation. This is usually a time of
emotional crisis for the elderly, and a field worker with skill and
ability can make it a much less traumatic experience. It must be
remembered that the job is not finished when an elderly person is
admitted to residential care; follow-up visits and continued contact
are maintained between the worker and the resident. Thus the old
person has the security of a continuing relationship with someone
outside the residential home. It will be seen, therefore, that the
field worker is usually in touch with the elderly for a long period,
which should begin some time before residential care is necessary,
and continue through and after the time of admission. The social
welfare officers made a total of 3,118 visits to elderly persons
during the year.
MEALS AND RECREATION
30. The Borough makes an annual grant to voluntary organisations
whose activities include the provision of meals and/or
recreation for old people. The Bromley Old People's Welfare Joint
Committee co-ordinates the work of the local Old People's Welfare
Committees. During 1965/66 a grant of £11,260 was made by the
Borough to the Old People's Welfare Joint Committee in respect
of services provided by Old People's Clubs and also for Meals-onWheels,
Holidays for Old People, and the Boarding Out scheme.
During the year 86,000 meals were served by the Women's Royal
Voluntary Service, the British Red Cross Society, and the voluntary
Old People's Welfare Committees through the Meals-on-Wheels
services, at luncheon clubs and day centres.
SPECIAL HOUSING OF THE ELDERLY
31. The Borough makes a grant in respect of the welfare services
provided in connection with the housing of old people. These
services include the employment of wardens to provide assistance
to the elderly tenants. During 1965/66 grants totalling £9,280 were
made in respect of 348 special housing units provided by the