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12
SOCIAL WELFARE SERVICES
Through the Health Department the Council have provided opportunities
for old people in the Borough to receive amenities and assistance which are
aimed at maintaining their health, if possible, but in any case to make their
declining years more comfortable and less boring than it would be if they were
left entirely alone in their varied accommodation.
The three lady welfare officers have again been fully occupied visiting
the aged in their homes and at the four full time Clubs which the old people
continue to attend in steadily increasing numbers. It is the "family
atmosphere" at the Clubs which seems to prove a great attraction, although the
outings parties and Club activities such as handicrafts, old time dancing,
T V., newspapers and the inevitable cup of tea all contribute to the success
of the Council s policy to run all day Clubs, Half the average 200 meals a
day provided through the Town Hall Canteen are eaten by the Clubs, members,
and a bath recently installed in the Bell Club is proving an asset both to
those who require assistance from the Welfare Officers and also to the Club
members who wish to take advantage of the facility for their weekly "soak".
Even if they are lucky enough to have one in their homes, many older people
are apprehensive about using a bath in case of accident.
Having a coach to take handicapped aged persons to the Clubs means that,
with the exception of those confined to their bed or wheel-chair, most old
people in Shoreditch who want to belong to a Club can attend at least once a
week with marked reduction in their deterioration.
The demand for the "meals on wheels" service increases steadily, and
again the Salvation Army have provided transport and an Officer to deliver
some of the 100 hot meals taken to housebound old people each day at a charge
of 10d for each two course meal.
The free laundry service for the incontinent is a boon to those who have
difficulties in washing and drying clothes, whether for the elderly person or
for the relation struggling to cope with an aged parent.
Once again outside organisations have helped to provide (among other
things) a shoe repair service Harvest Festival gifts, Christmas parties and
parcels. summer outings clothing, entertainment, etc. etc.
The Northampton College of Advanced Technology have regularly asked
for pensioners to act as "guinea pigs" at their lectures. The old person
spends two hours in the College having his eyes examined by students under
the supervision of a lecturer Any defects diagnosed are taken care of,
tea is provided and at the end of the session 5/- is paid to the patient.
So far there is no queue. but we have always been able to meet the demand
for "specimens"
In June the Shoreditch Holiday Hotel at St, Leonards on Sea was reopened
after a period of eight months during which time extensive structural
alterations were carried out. Although the installation of a lift resulted
in a slight reduction in the number of beds available for the guests, 38
residents of Shoreditch (mostly pensioners) were accommodated each week during
the Summer season It was hoped that the new central heating system and
improved kitchen facilities would encourage people to make use of the Hotel
during the Autumn and Winter months but apart from Christmas and the New Year
the bookings were disappointingly low despite publicity within the Borough,
During the period June 1964 to March 1965 there was a total of 763 persons
accommodated at the Hotel of whom 727 were of pensionable age and 13 children
under the age of 15 years
The following table shows the average attendances at the Old People* s
Clubs during the year