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19
National Assistance Act, 1948.
(a) Section 47 provides for the removal of persons to hospital
who are unable to devote to themselves proper care and attention.
Two persons were dealt with during the year. They were females
of 74 and 80 years. Both were removed to hospital; one died a few
days after admission. The other returned home after the expiration of
the magistrate's order and subsequently re-entered hospital as a
voluntary patient.
(b) Section 50 requires a Local Authority to arrange for the burial
or cremation of a person who has died or been found dead, and where
it appears to the Local Authority no suitable arrangements are being
made for the disposal of the body.
The burial of three persons was dealt with during ihe year as
follows:—
(a) A female, 75 years, collapsed and died at Darby and
Joan Club.
(b) A male, 78 years, died at lodgings.
(c) A male, 79 years, found dead in street.
Miss M. J. Copping, Welfare Officer for Old People reports as
follows:—
"During the year 1957, 612 cases were dealt with, 356 being
new. Home visits totalled 768, and 274 interviews were conducted
at the Public Health Offices. Many old people made special requests
not to be visited because of objections to visitors made by the persons
with whom they reside. On the other hand many with no specific
difficulties requested regular friendly visits because of loneliness.
Those who were mobile were put in touch with Old Age Pensioners'
Clubs. Others were referred to such organisations as the Rotary
Clubs. Round Table, Women's Voluntary Service, Townswomen's
Guilds, and Mothers' Unions. One Sunday School asked for a list of
names of old people and at Easter, Whitsun, Harvest Festival.
Christmas, and on the old folks' birthdays, children send cards and
visit with flowers, from their own gardens, and small gifts made
by the children themselves Contact with certain of these various
interested bodies was maintained during the year by addressing
members at their regular meetings. The result is a great deal of
voluntary visiting, the volume of which cannot be estimated, but the
visitors refer to the Department any persons found to be ill or in
difficulties, and through this interchange of information it is known
that much regular visiting is being carried out and greatly appreciated.
In addition to visits and interviews, much work is done by telephone.
Relatives of old persons frequently wish to ask some advice without
the knowledge of the old person concerned, often they merely need
reassurance on some point; occasionally they do not wish to reveal
their own identity. An average of ten such telephone calls are received
weekly.
As in 1956 far more appeals for help were received direct from
the old persons concerned, instead of from other sources as formerly
and the majority of these particular persons were advised to do so by
friends who had received help and advice in the past. The volume of
correspondence has greatly increased.
Requests from Almoners for visits and reports continued, and
the National Assistance Board also referred several persons. Local
General Practitioners refer a large number of cases and these usually
concern persons for whom the General Practitioner has sought a
Hospital bed without success. Of 96 persons known to me who were
admitted to Hospital during the year, 31 fell into that category. They