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31
About 10 persons were advised by me to apply because they
were living in rather squalid conditions and not keeping themselves
clean. Among these were some who had lost heart following the
death of husband or wife and some who were senile.
Forty-eight families appealed to me because they wanted a
holiday away from home, but must first arrange care for an old
person. Or they wished the old person to have a holiday but could
not afford to pay for him. Holiday accommodation by the sea was
found for several persons and some were assisted financially from
the Mayor's Fund.
Some of the 48 were admitted to Private Guest Homes for the
elderly, some of which very graciously consented to reduce their
fees to make it possible. The balance was paid by the old persons
themselves or their relatives. I often feel that relatives could help
much more with these payments. Many families tell me that they
cannot afford to make the slightest contribution and then reveal that
they have booked a very expensive holiday abroad for themselves.
Persons with a fairer sense of values would plan a less expensive
holiday and use the balance to pay for the support of the old person.
Some go as far as to claim part of the person's old age pension for
rent even during the period when he is away from home. Also some
persons book their own holiday accommodation early in the year
and then appeal for care of the old person about 4 weeks or less from
the commencement of the holiday. This is unavoidable if the person
has just become ill or had an accident, but in many cases the family
knew when they made their own holiday arrangements that the old
person concerned could not be left alone in the house. I cannot take
a firm line with these relatives as I would like to do because if their
holiday is cancelled the old person is distressed. Quite frequently
thp old persons are mentally confused or very forgetful. Away from
their customary surroundings and routine they become more so,
and it is not unusual for me to receive an S.O.S. from a boarding
establishment that one of my old persons has caused a disturbance,
e.g. one hit the proprietor with an umbrella and then walked out of
the house, another became intoxicated and quarrelled with other
guests, several have wandered into the wrong bedrooms during night
hours and others have been taken ill and had to be admitted to
Hospital. I try to arrange for relatives to leave with the Proprietors
and myself an address of where they will be staying, but if they are
going abroad or touring the countryside this is not possible or of
little use in an emergency, and it is left to me to sort out the
immediate problem.