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33
or other of them must accept the responsibility and that the paramount
consideration in deciding this must be the interests of the person requiring
the service, they will be able between them to settle the occasional
case of difficulty."
Apart from the small numbers who need special help in these ways,
there are larger numbers with some special need. This may be housing
or feeding or the need for companionship.
Housing. An increasing proportion of housing accommodation of
a type suitable for their special needs is being made available for the
elderly. This is not only a kindness to those for whom they are intended,
but is a contribution to the relief of the housing problem as the larger
accommodation in which they live becomes available for some other
family. The Harrow Housing Society provides accommodation for a
number of elderly at Pinner House, Church Lane, Pinner.
Feeding. Some people can be assured of a satisfactory meal on at
least some days of the week in one of two ways. The one is the Luncheon
Club held at the Assembly Hall in North Harrow and at Belmont. The
other is the Meals on Wheels Service organised by the W.V.S. by which
meals are taken to some elderly persons confined to their homes. During
the year the London Area Mobile Physiotherapy Service Ltd., which
benefited from the funds of the Greater Harrow District Nursing
Association, gave a van to the Harrow Old People's Welfare Committee
to be used for this purpose so greater numbers can now benefit from these
arrangements.
Companionship. This is what so many of the elderly need. Some
obtain it by becoming members of the Evergreen Clubs run by the British
Red Cross Society or of the Darby and Joan Clubs provided by the
W.V.S. Another method is by the Home Visiting service arranged by the
Co-ordinating Officer of the Harrow Old People's Welfare Committee.
Chiropody. In 1956 the Council sought permission of the Minister
of Housing and Local Government to make a grant under Section 136
of the Local Government Act, 1948, of £100 per annum to the Harrow
Old People's Welfare Committee for the provision, in co-operation with
the Harrow branch of the British Red Cross Society, of a chiropody
service for needy old people in the borough. Although the Minister could
not see his way to give permission to this grant being made, it could be
provided under Section 31 of the National Assistance Act, 1948, and at
their meeting in June the Council authorised such a grant being made.
A Clinic for the Aged. In November the County Council submitted
to the Minister of Health an application to modify their existing
proposals under Section 28 of the National Health Service Act, 1946,
relating to the prevention of illness, care and after-care by the addition
of the following new proposal regarding special clinics for the elderly:
The County Council will provide for one year as an experiment in
Preventive medicine a special clinic for the elderly at which they can be
medically examined and be given general health education, particularly
in regard to diet, and if proved satisfactory will provide such clinics where
considered necessary."