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70
which is the priceless asset and it is the guarding of this in their own
homes that will keep the elderly happier.
The right time for residential care to be provided is when
domiciliary care no longer meets the individual's needs. There is no
doubt that when persons are admitted they will live longer but will
become frailer and less able to attend to their own needs.
Residential Accommodation
The accommodation available remains at 165 places plus 38
places at Kingsmead, Richmond, throughout the year and no further
accommodation will be ready until the new purpose built home for 50
residents at Kingston is occupied in the early part of 1970. The
capital building programme for residential homes provides for an
extension to Fircroft, Surbiton, for an additional 24 places in 1970/71,
and a new purpose built home for 50 places in 1971/72. The site of this
home is likely to be in the Alpha Road redevelopment area.
The very limited mobility of an increasing number of residents
presents a problem in filling vacancies in homes without lifts, and new
homes when completed will have lifts installed, which will greatly ease
this problem.
There is a tendency for admissions from hospital and from
persons living alone to rise in comparison with those admitted from
homes of relatives. This means that support for relatives caring for
the aged comes increasingly from the domiciliary services. Short stay
admissions have been arranged and it is hoped to increase these considerably
when new homes are available.
When admitted, every effort is made to see that the old persons
have every care and attention and facilities for chiropody, hairdressing
and social entertainment.
Waiting List
I reported last year that the waiting list of persons requiring
residential accommodation at 31st December 1968 was 26 men and 86 women.
At 31st December 1969 the number of persons on the waiting list was 34
men and 97 women, an increase of 17 per cent.