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81
A meeting was held at Farnborough Hospital in November,
1967, with the Group Secretary, Consultant Geriatrician, and other
officers of the Bromley Group Hospital Management Committee to
discuss the problems arising from the shortage of beds in residential
homes which makes it difficult for patients to be moved from
hospital into residential accommodation when they are no longer
in need of hospital treatment but are unable to care for themselves
in their own homes. The discussion took place on the agreed
understanding that the one-for-one exchange system, which is used
in some areas, is not acceptable. The hospital officers accepted
the view that residents were entitled to know that, when admitted
to hospital for treatment, their bed in the residential home would
be retained for their return. It was agreed that patients requiring
recuperative care before returning home after hospital treatment
could go to residential homes for short term care rather than to a
convalescent home too far away from their home area. Very few
have, however, come into homes so far but the hospital social
workers are aware of the arrangements which can be made to meet
a particular individual need.
Short term care in residential homes is now firmly established
as a supporting service for the elderly and their families. The
number who received such care during the year was 134—a small
increase of 11 over the previous year but representing maximum
use throughout the year, summer and winter, of the beds available
for this purpose. The average age of those admitted was again
81 years: of the 5 who did not return home, 1 died, 1 went into
hospital, 2 went to voluntary homes and only 1 stayed in a local
authority home.
Day Care
Extensive use has been made of the facilities at the residential
homes for receiving day care visitors. The number of individuals
attending during the year was 40. This number could have been
exceeded had more transport facilities been available to bring the
elderly to the Homes. The value of this service lies in its long
term preventive aspect, as well as in the positive help given at a
particular time. Those who come to the Homes, as well as relatives
who care for them, are given encouragement and support to remain
in their own homes and the pressure on permanent accommodation
is eased. An interesting feature of the new home planned to open
in 1969 at St. Paul's Cray, is the day centre provision which will
enable 15 to 20 elderly to participate in various activities, including
further education classes, in the additional rooms provided.
Accommodation provided by Voluntary Homes
There were 55 elderly people admitted to voluntary homes
during the year whilst 54 were discharged. The average age of