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Every effort is made to visit at intervals of not more
than three months, and more frequently - weekly and sometimes
even daily - when necessary. Many first requests were again
received for assistance to elderly persons and all were dealt
with promptly. Altogether over 4,000 visits were made by the
Council's Woman Inspector and her Assistant during the year to
the homes of the aged.
There is close co-operation in this work between the
Council's Inspector and the General Practitioners, District
Nurses, the Hospital Service, and the County Council's Home
Help and Welfare services, and with the Mobile Meals organisers
and the workers of the Council of Social Service.
Wherever possible, every endeavour is made to provide an
elderly person with nursing or domestic help in his or her
own home to enable them to continue living at home for as long
as possible.
Assistance with admissions to hospital is given. During
1960 it was not found necessary to apply to the Courts for the
compulsory removal to hospital of any person resident in the
Borough.
Laundering for the Incontinent Aged
Under powers contained in the Public Health (London) Act,
the Council provides a service for the washing of soiled linen
belonging to the incontinent aged where other arrangements are
not reasonably possible,, The disinfecting staff of the Health
Department carry out this work and there has recently been a
greatly increased demand for this service. New equipment
installed has enabled the volume of work to be doubled.
There is a collection three times weekly and the number
of persons using this service at any one time averages twenty.
The total number of articles dealt with during the year
was l6,86l comprising the followlng:-
Night attire 1,114; Sheets 4,657; Draw Sheets 3,187;
Blankets 225; Pillow cases 1,247; Towels 2,051;
Miscellaneous 4,380.
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