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OLD PEOPLE'S WELFARE
The needs of 20 cases of old people living in difficult circumstances were investigated
during 1953, and the action taken is recorded in the following list:—
Removed to hospital 3
Removed to hospital (under National Assistance Act powers)
Removed to mental institution -
Removed to old people's home 1
Died at home 2
Remained at home 14
(a) Home Help provided 3
(.b) Refused to enter home or accept Home Help 6
(c) No help required 5
The difficulties of the old persons recorded on this list were brought to the notice
of the Public Health Department either by interested relations, neighbours or friends,
or by complaint by one or other of the statutory authorities.
Following the receipt of a complaint, a visit would be made by the District Sanitary
Inspector or the County's Home Help Organiser, in order that the needs of the particular
individual could be ascertained. These needs vary in the same individual from time to
time, as at one time the requirement might be for provision of Home Help, District Nursing
or Home Comforts, while later in the same year the need might be for urgent removal to a
home or to a hospital. The number actually brought to our attention during 1953 was
lower than during the previous year, and this may be attributed possibly to the work,
which is reported later, done by the Old People's Welfare Committee, but each case
involves the Department staff in many visits and telephone calls. On one particular
emergency case alone, in one day 4 visits and 9 telephone calls were required.
Of the 20 cases reported above, it can be seen that 6 were persistent in their refusal
throughout the year to accept any type of help whatever, and these cases required to be
kept under fairly frequent supervision in order to judge of any deterioration of the home
or of the old person.
It has been ascertained from the Area Medical Officer that 302 Southall people were
given Home Help during the year and of these 217 consisted of chronic sick or aged persons.
There was a great increase in the amount of voluntary work carried out to help the aged
during 1953, and many voluntary associations contributed to provide Christmas parcels
or special comforts for old people.
Meals on Wheels Service
This service, very ably controlled by the Women's Voluntary Service Association,
continued to provide meals to old people at a cost of 9d. per meal to the recipient. Those
in necessitous circumstances were able to have their meals free of charge. The members
of the Women's Voluntary Service cooked and transported the meals to the persons
receiving them, and during the year 2,351 meals were supplied to 55 individual persons.
This is an increase over the numbers in 1952, when 1,832 meals were supplied to 51
individual persons. Up till now it has been impossible to obtain provision of these meals
for more than one a week per person, but it is hoped that this will be substantially increased
during 1954—the purpose of these meals being to prevent malnutrition in persons who are
unable to obtain cooked meals by their own efforts, a one day a week service, while better
than nothing, is unlikely to be sufficient to provide full nourishment and a balanced diet.
Old People's Welfare Committee
During 1953, this Committee carried out a survey on approximately half of the Borough
in order to obtain information regarding all the persons of pensionable age living in the
area covered by the survey, and to ascertain also the needs, if any, of these people.
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