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22
Miss M.J. Copping, Welfare Officer for Old Folk, reports as follows:-
"The total number of cases dealt with during 1963 was 657 of
which 390 concerned old persons not previously known to me. Of the
remainder a few had been known to me for ten years and many for five
or more years. Average age of the old people seen was over 80 years
and several were over 90 years, yet alert and active. Home visits
paid by me numbered 676 and of the persons visited approximately
150 were referred to the Health Visitors for further visiting, and 42
to the Essex County Council for consideration for eventual admission
to Part 3 accommodation or for inclusion on the register of physically
handicapped persons. A much larger number were referred to the
Domestic Help Organisers for Home Help Service, to the Women's
Voluntary Service for Meals-on-Wheels, and to the Chiropodists. No
factual report can convey the value of these home visits. Advice,
ideas and information are not only given to the visited but received
by the visitor and the keen and delightful sense of humour that so
many old persons have makes the bulk of the visiting a pleasant
duty.
I continue to see Dr. Dunn at the Geriatric Unit once weekly
and liaison with the Unit is now so well developed that there is an
almost daily telephonic interchange of information about patients
past, present and awaiting admission. Of 147 patients of the Unit
visited by me following their discharge the majority spoke highly of
the kindness, good food, and medical and nursing care. We sometimes
read in the press complaints and criticisms of the treatment of old
persons in Hospital. This has the unfortunate effect of causing some
old persons to refuse a proffered bed. I regret that the praise I hear
and the messages of gratitude and affection I am asked to convey to
the staff cannot be amassed and published. The result would be a
glowing testimonial. Isolated complaints are made to me. Seldom
have these been about anything which could not have been rectified
if the Ward Sister had been approached at the time. Also some of the
things about which young relatives complain are accepted quite
happily by elderly patients or are not noticed by them.
Among the persons admitted are some who are cared for while
their relatives are on holiday and these are often more critical of the
conditions than those admitted for treatment. This is understandable
as they often do not wish to be there and are resentful.
Arranging for the care of old persons while their families have
a holiday or a rest is fraught with pit falls and causes far more work
than is readily apparent. I was asked to make such arrangements for