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services to satisfy proven demands. I would like to
seethe existing services, especially the domiciliary
ones, brought to perfection before we embark upon
new schemes. The domiciliary services are understaffed
and therefore inadequate. This seems to be
due to poor remuneration or reliance upon unpaid
volunteers. Each year I become more convinced that
the best place for an old person to live in is his or
her own home, and in order to make this possible
we need to increase the scope and quality of the existing
domiciliary services which are in themselves
good practical services.
Other activities in which I took part during the
year were discussions and informative visits with
overseas students on Health Education Courses,
attendance at a Home Safety Session at CentralHall,
Westminster, a visit to a Day Centre at Romford,
and attendance at various local committee meetings
as in former years. Some of my off duty time is
spent serving on Committees at Canning Town Settlement,
where I am the present Chairman of the
Citizens Advice Bureau Committee. These contacts
are useful in many ways. Among other things the
Settlement has a Home for the Elderly where several
people from Ilford are at present in residence.
Before terminating my report I would like to
make mention of the various organisations who invited
me to talk to their members during the year.
Evening addresses were given to The League of
Jewish Women, the Toc H Womens Association
(ilford and Barkingside Branches) and afternoon
addresses to the Cradle Roll Fellowship of the Presbyterian
Church. The questions asked and the knowledge
revealed by these appreciative audiences left
me in no doubt that there is a very considerable
amount of sympathy and interest among the people
of Ilford for the very large number of elderly persons
residing in the town and for those who are engaged
in trying to make their remaining years a
time of contentment and happiness."
The laundry service for cleansing of soiled bed
linen and personal clothing continued to operate
throughout the year, proving of invaluable assistance
in very difficult cases.