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76
families, friends and neighbours, who help to support and sustain those who
would find it difficult or impossible to manage otherwise.
Although preventive social services are costly, it is well to keep
in mind the hidden savings in avoiding the much heavier costs of residential
care, quite apart from the human gain in keeping people in their own homes
with their families, friends and neighbours.
Meals on Wheels Service
Providing regular well balanced meals is an obvious essential
requirement in a service which sets out to sustain elderly people in their own
homes. The department has given particular attention to the meals on wheels
service, which was started many years ago by pioneering voluntary organisations.
Consideration is constantly being given to the improvement of the
quality to give a greater variety of menu, and to the special requirements of
individuals. Attention is given to the dietetic requirements of elderly people,
whilst also continuing to cater for the traditionally popular dishes.
Substantial progress has been made during the past year with the
expansion of the meals on wheels service, which is seen as an essential daily
service to the housebound and infirm, who have no regular or satisfactory means
of obtaining a hot meal.
During 1967 a total of 34,087 meals were delivered as compared with
19,105 in the last 9 months of 1966.
The Kingston Women's Royal Voluntary Service continued to be responsible
for the delivery of the meals in the Kingston district, whilst the British Red
Cross carried out this function similarly for Surbiton, and the average monthly
meals delivered were 1,500 and 1,225 respectively. The Maiden and Coombe Old
People's Welfare Association, with the assistance of the Maiden W.R.V.S.
continued to be responsible for the provision and delivery of meals in the Maiden
and Coombe area of the borough, but were also supplied from the Council's meals
on wheels kitchen with approximately 110 meals each month.
During the year the British Red Cross Society experienced some
difficulty in delivering the meals to elderly people because of the lack of
voluntary drivers, but after an enquiry and an appropriate advertisement, the
Society was able to undertake satisfactory deliveries in the Surbiton area.
The following is a graph showing the monthly meals supplied from the
meals on wheels kitchen during 1967.