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WELFARE OF THE ELDERLY
Much time and. effort is devoted by the Council to the welfare
of the elderly, the principle behind this service being that help
is given wherever it is most needed., The Council are concerned to
see that elderly persons who are often living alone and unable to
cook their own meal or do their own housework are given the necessary
assistance,, The Council regard regular visitation to such people as
one of the most important aspects of the welfare of the elderly.
Nearly 3,000 such visits were made by the Council's woman Inspector
during 1957. whereas in some parts of the Borougn a lone person
can often rely on the help of neighbours and other friends living
nearby, yet in other areas he or she may be less fortunate and have
no friends in close contact,and in such cases, the home visitation
service has a vital part to play. Where hospital admission is
needed the Health Department can often assist in the arrangements.
During the year a number of persons were found to be living in
poor conditions and unable to look after themselves, and were not
receiving adequate attention from others. All these persons were
persuaded either to enter a suitable Home, or failing this to have
further domestic assistance, or nursing care. It was not necessary
to use the Council's powers of compulsory removal during the year,
Mobile Meals Service.
In mid-1957 it was learnt that the Women's Voluntary Service wass
prepared to put at the disposal of the Borough a new 10 cwt. van
fully equipped with hot-lock containers, together with the supply
of petrol by the W.V.S., and in view of this offer the Old People's
Welfare Committee recommended the Council that a mobile meals
service should operate in the Borough on four days a week.
The Council were satisfied on the need and agreed to support,
The service commenced on the 11th September with an official
Opening Ceremony, the Mayor receiving the van from the W.V.S,
Regional Administrator. Along with the Mayoress, he then accompanied
the delivery of the first meal,, Meals are supplied by the
Plumstead caterer who at the present time supplies meals to the
Eltham Lunch Club,The scheme is administered jointly by the W.V.S
and the Woolwich Council of Social Service. Extreme care is taken
to ensure that only those persons needing the service are entered
on the list of recipients. On the receipt of each application, a
personal visit is made to assess the degree of priority,, When the
service commenced, 24 meals a day were being served on the Tuesday
and Thursday route, which is the longer and takes in Eltham and part
of upper Plumstead and Woolwich, and 28 meals a dav on the Wednesday
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