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30
The Aged
The care of the aged is an ever increasing problem, which taxes the
energies and the resources of both the statutory authorities and the
voluntary agencies who devote much of their time to helping this section
of the population. The services available in the Borough through various
agencies consist of:—
(1) Luncheon Clubs.
(2) Meals on Wheels.
(3) Holiday Scheme.
(4) Window Cards—for display in case of emergency.
(5) Chiropody.
(6) Laundry Service.
(7) Domestic Help.
(8) Home Nursing.
(9) Visiting of Housebound.
(10) Social clubs.
Each of these services plays a part in keeping old people active and
interested in life. Generally, apathy and loneliness are the main problems.
Giving the elderly person an interest, a feeling of belonging and most
important, of not being a burden, is essential in rehabilitation work,
Activity of both the mind and body is to be encouraged and with this end
in view the Harrow Old People's Welfare Committee are actively pursuing
the idea of opening a workshop for the elderly in premises in Palmerston
Road, Wealdstone.
Advisory Clinics for the Elderly
In November the Local Area Health Committee considered a report
on Advisory Clinics for the Elderly. It was felt these clinics could serve
a useful purpose and it was decided to open such a clinic on an experimental
basis at the Broadway Clinic, Wealdstone. It is hoped to make a
start with one session per week in April 1963. The clinic will be mainly
for the elderly people living in the vicinity of the Broadway Clinic, but
there will be no restrictions and elderly people from other districts will be
welcome to attend. I f this is a success, the service could be extended to
other districts in the Borough.
The clinic will provide general advice to old people on healthy living,
including personal health problems, diet, accident prevention and social
welfare. A medical Officer will carry out a medical examination. Health
visitors will see the old people as well to discuss with them their multifarious
problems and try and suggest ways and means for their solution.
Cases will be referred by health visitors, welfare officers, and it is hoped
that general practitioners will refer any of their cases whom they feel we
might be able to help. Lay officers, e.g. secretaries of various old people s
organisations, may not refer patients directly, but there will be no objection
to their publicising the clinic among their members. The medical officer
will not carry out any treatment. Any person found, or thought to be in