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Unfortunately there are still far from sufficient voluntary
workers to visit aged persons in Stepney, many of whom live
alone and have no relatives and who very much appreciate
occasional friendly visits. This is social work which is
well worth doing, and if any resident of the Borough feels
that he or she could help in this respect, the Secretary of
the Stepney Old People's Welfare Association, The Royal
Foundation of St„Katharine Butcher Row, Ratcliffe, E.14,
would appreciate their assistance.
A register of old people visited is kept in the Department,
a summary of which is as follows:-
Number on register at 1st January 237
Additions to the register during the year 370
Removals from register during the year 127
Number on register at 31st December 480
The Council provides a service for disinfesting and
Cleansing bed linen and personal clothing, under Section 122
of the Public Health (London) Act, 1936. This service although
not provided solely for old folk affords most benefit to such
people.
Aged persons »ho have not the facilities in their homes
for a bath, or vho are not capable of bathing themselves, are
assisted in this respect by the Department's cleansing attendants
with the aid of portable bath equipment. By this means
during the year 122 old persons were bathed and 263 baths given.
There are fourteen old people's clubs in the Borough,
whose activities are co-ordinated by the Stepney Old People's
Welfare Association. The Council is represented on this body
by members of the Council and the Medical Officer of Health,
and applications to the Council by old persons' clubs for grants
under Section 31 of the National Assistance Act, 1948. are
referred to the Association for investigation. Grants made
to clubs by the Council during the year amounted to £1,844.
A Meals on Wheels service is provided for the old folk,
run jointly by the Old People's Welfare Association and the
W.V.S., some 13>000 meals being delivered during the year,
and four of the clubs have Luncheon Clubs which.provided over
15,000 meals in 1952.
Chiropody Clinics are provided at five of the clubs.
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