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15
Mrs. Wood commenced duty on 21st May 1962 and during the ensuing
seven months made 873 visits. A proportion of these were noneffective
for various reasons but 585 effective visits resulted in
419 old people being found in need of help of some kind. In 56 cases
the old people lacked sufficient clothing and all were supplied
through the W.V.S. Only 8 of them were sufficiently able-bodied to
attend the W.V.S. centre unescorted, another 8 were taken by car and
in the remaining 40 cases the clothing was brought to their homes.
There were 21 old people with inadequate bedding (one old gentleman
slept on the bed springs covered only with a ragged blanket). 4 beds,
5 mattresses, and 12 sets of blankets and sheets were supplied.
40 old people previously unknown to the Department were referred
to the health visitors and a further 55 assisted as follows:-
15 referred to (and received) National Assistance
8 referred to Housing Department
8 provided with Meals on Wheels
10 provided with Domestic Help
2 provided with Fire Guards
1 provided with Wireless Set
5 referred to the Blind Welfare Officer
(3 subsequently registered as blind)
6 provided with Home Nursing
The remainder were helped in less tangible ways by advice and
encouragement, and it is impossible to gauge the value of this work
in preventing breakdown in the physical and mental health of old
people, especially those living alone in poor circumstances. Typical
of the cases dealt with are the following examples:-
1. Mrs. A., a widow of 78, had begun to get into debt during
her husband's last illness' She was wholly dependant on
National Assistance and when brought to our notice owed £10
in rent. She was encouraged to try to pay this off but failed
to keep up the payments and the debt increased to £15 and she
was in danger of being taken to Court. The Glasspool Trust
was approached and generously offered to provide a grocery
allowance of 10/ d weekly provided Mrs. A. paid the current
rent and 7/6d per week off the arrears. This, in conjunction
with friendly visits each week, enabled the old lady to meet
her commitments and undoubtedly spared her a great deal of
anxiety during the closing period of her life, for she died
a few months later.
2. Two spinster sisters aged 61 and 59, were found to be
suffering from obvious malnutrition and on enquiry it emerged
that both were attempting to subsist on the one old-age
pension of the elder sister. The younger of the two was
incapable of working and had no means whatever, so that they
had only £2, 7. Od a week between them to cover, rent, fuel,
light, clothing and food. In addition medicines had to be