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for families accepting responsibility for their elderly relatives. The
average age of those admitted was 81 years.
26. The discharge pattern requires no comment, except that of
those taken into residential homes for short periods 2 were admitted
to hospital and 2 died in the Home. There is little evidence that
residents' relatives use the short term facilities to press for
permanent care.
Day Care
27. The acquisition of the special vehicle for the handicapped has
enabled the day care arrangements to be extended. Matrons of
homes where people attend for day care report that the permanent
residents welcome the contacts with their "daily guests" and the
days spent at the homes are an important part of the life of those
who attend regularly. Throughout the year, there were 1,136 attendances
on a day care basis compared with 132 in 1965/66. This
represents a tremendous expansion and illustrates how effective day
care can be in keeping the elderly in their own homes. Close
co-operation between matrons, social workers, residents and
relatives have made these arrangements possible and the care taken
on an individual basis has ensured the smooth operation of the
arrangements. In 1965, a charge of 1s. 6d. per attendance was fixed
but this is likely to be reviewed next year in view of the extended
facilities provided.
Accommodation provided by, or on behalf of, other local
authorities
28. There were 45 residents from Bromley accommodated in other
local authority homes on 31st March, 1967, whilst 35 elderly people
from other authority areas were in care in homes in Bromley.
Accommodation provided by Voluntary Organisations
29. A number of voluntary organisations provide residential
accommodation for residents of Bromley under arrangements
whereby the local authority accepts the financial responsibility for
maintenance. At the 31st March, 1967, 185 elderly and 28
physically handicapped persons were accommodated in this way.
30. During the year, there were 60 new admissions to homes
managed by voluntary bodies, of which 30% were men. This is
the same pattern as in the local authority sector but the average
age of the total admitted was slightly less—79 years compared
with 82 years.
31. Of the 185 elderly accommodated by voluntary agencies on
behalf of the London Borough of Bromley, 58% had a stay not
exceeding 3 years compared with 80% in local authority homes.
On the other hand, the average age of discharge of Bromley residents
in voluntary homes was slightly higher (84 years) than in the
local authority establishments (82 years). About the same