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52
To summarise the problem in connection with old people is not a
direct one but the aggregation of circumstances which results in a
long term deterioration of property with a consequential greater
financial outlay at some future time in order to bring the premises
up to a reasonable standard and whilst the solution to the problem
is not the affair of the Public Health Inspector nevertheless
various aspects of the problem are thrown at him.
The Housing Manager says
With regard to problems associated with old age. I would say
that whilst the Council do not make a lot of fuss in building blocks
of flats specifically for elderly people the needs of these people
do receive more attention by the Council as regards rehousing than
any othei sections All vacancies of bedsitting room flats and ground
floor one bedroom flats are allocated to elderly people and of this
type of accommodation on first and second floors at least two thirds
go to elderly people, who feel sufficiently active to climb the
stairs. I think it is true to say that as far as Walthamstow is
concerned the elderly people like to be provided with accommodation
that is not specially designed for elderly people. They like to feel
that they are a real part of the community. We experience certain
complaints for example, in connection with the block of flats on the
Hylands Estate, which was specially designed for the elderly people
but I am of the opinion that the majority of the complaints are to
the fact that there are 40 elderly people all in one group. "