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8.
Borough Council's Housing Estates and 53 more are in course
of construction.
Though most old people in Stepney are well cared for
by their relatives and live the final years of their life
in comfort and companionship, there are unfortunately many
others living ail one under most unsatisfactory conditions.
This problem will increase during the next thirty
years. Probably 13.5 per cent of the population, viz.
13,000, are pensioners to-day. In thirty years, 20 per
cent, viz. 20,000, will be of pensionable age. During the
same period the number of young persons will decrease and
there will be fewer to care for the aged. No doubt before
then special legislation will have been introduced to deal
with the problem. I do not think it can be covered adequately
by voluntary effort and existing legislation.
The Stepney Old People's Welfare Association. This
Association has been in existence 2½ years. The Borough
Council is represented on the Association by five members
of the Council and the Medical Officer of Health, and
applications to the Borough Council by affiliated old
persons' clubs for grants under Section 31 of the National
Assistance Act, 1948, are referred to the Association by
the Borough Council for investigation and recommendation.
The Association assists the aged through clubs, meals
services, visiting and other services made available
through its affiliated bodies. Fourteen clubs are now
affiliated, whose activities include concerts, films,
parties and outings. In some clubs classes are held by
the Local Education Authority for handicrafts, dressmaking,
singing and old-time dancing.
The Meals on Wheels service is organised by the W.V.S.,
who use two vans (one maintained by the Borough Council)
and serve 253 meals per week. Four of the clubs have
luncheon clubs operating, where 302 dinners are served per
week. In five of the clubs chiropody clinics have been
established, and approximately 80 old persons are treated
each month.
Visiting. Old persons -in Stepney are visited by the
Council's wofaian sanitary inspector, the district sanitary
Inspectors, voluntary visitors, doctors, clergy, Assistance
Board and local Welfare Department officers, parish staffs,
members of congregations, church sisters of various denominations
and club workers, who all help to put the old folk