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67
of Health has given provisional approval to the erection of a home for
less than 60 residents on this site. It is hoped that the plans will
be prepared during the coming year.
The Borough Council has also made provision in the capital
estimates for a scheme to join numbers 12 and 14 Langley Avenue, and
the Borough Architect has been requested to prepare suitable plans.
In addition, a scheme of adaptations at Fairlawn, Warren
Road, Kingston Hill has been provided for in capital estimates. This
scheme is intended to improve the standard of accommodation provided
to bring it into line with accepted Ministry of Health standards; no
additional accommodation will be provided.
The borough's building programme of accommodation for elderly
persons as at the close of the year is approximately a year behind, and
with the ever-increasing pressure of applications it is very necessary
that great efforts should be made to secure further sites and put further
schemes provided for in the Plan, into operation at an early date.
Staff
Difficulties in the recruitment of suitable staff for the
residential homes have in no way decreased. Provision has been made
in both capital and revenue estimates for the improvement of staff
accommodation during the coming financial year, but the standards to
be achieved still leave much to be desired, and although helpful, these
improvements are not likely to assist recruitment.
Occupational Therapy at Welfare Homes for the Elderly
Regular occupational therapy sessions are held at the Council's
Old People's Homes and the residents take great interest in their work.
Materials are purchased from the residents' comforts fund, and the finished
articles are sold on the premises by the Matrons for the benefit of the
fund, although a resident wishing to purchase an article may do so for
the cost of the materials involved.
Homes Administered by Voluntary Organisations
There are many voluntary organisations throughout the country
who maintain their own homes for aged persons who satisfy their individual
requirements for admission, for example, past profession, religion or
domicile, and the accommodation thus provided makes a valuable contribution
to the welfare of the old people. One such home within the borough has
been helpful to the department by taking a number of elderly persons
pending vacancies arising in our own homes. They also accommodated 9
elderly persons for holiday periods, the Council accepting financial
responsibility in each case for maintenance costs.