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appears to the Local Authority no suitable arrangements are being
made for the disposal of the body.
No burials were required to be arranged during 1962.
Miss M. J. Copping, Welfare Officer for Old Folk, reports as follows':-
"During the year 1962 I dealt with 607 cases, 328 of which
were not previously known to me. Of the remainder a few had been
known to me since the early days of my appointment almost 9 years
ago, and many for at least 5 years. Average age of the persons
concerned was over 80 years.
Home visits by me numbered 625, visits to the Geriatric Unit
Chadwell Heath Hospital 48, and interviews at the Public Health
Offices and elsewhere 269. Of the persons dealt with 88 subsequently
died in Hospital, and 62 at home.
Of the visits 143 were made at the request of Dr. Dunn, Consultant
Geriatrician and were to persons either awaiting admission
to, or recently discharged from, Chadwell Heath Hospital or St.
George's Hospital, Hornchurch. There were also a few visits paid
to persons discharged from Queen Mary's Hospital, Stratford, The
London Hospital, St. Bartholomew's Hospital, Wanstead Hospital
and Goodmayes Hospital. Most of the persons discharged from the
Geriatric Unit are seen by me there with Dr. Dunn and the Wand
Sister. We have a brief discussion about their home background and
disabilities and endeavour to assess what they will need in the way
domiciliary services following discharge. Some who are going home
to the care of younger persons do not need anything; others who
live alone need every service available and a degree of moral support.
They may also need the loan of sickroom equipment and the services
of some strong person to bring their bed from the first' to the ground
floor because they can no longer climb stairs . Toe H and other organisations
have been helpful in that respect. An endeavour is
made to arrange adequate domiciliary servcies to commence immediately
from the date of discharge and where the patient lives
alone to see that a kindly neighbour is waiting to receive him with
a fire lit if appropriate, a welcoming cup of tea prepared and sufficient
shopping done to provide for the first day or two.
The visit following discharge is primarily to check if the
services are functioning and are adequate. A tactful survey of the
premises sometimes prompts the giving of advice to make application
for more suitable accommodation such as a ground floor flatlet