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Divisional Welfare Officer investigates all cases and endeavours to
arrange for their admission to Homes. Unfortunately, as in previous
years, the waiting list for admission continues to lengthen, and it has
become extremely difficult to obtain vacancies, even for quite urgent
cases.
The Geriatrician based at Kingston Hospital is responsible for the
care of the chronic sick who require admission to hospital. The
number of available beds is limited and sometimes the waiting period
is unduly long. However, really urgent cases have always been ad'
mitted without delay.
Voluntary organizations which carry out a great deal of valuable
work for the elderly, the housebound and the chronic sick, have been
reported previously. They continue to make a most valuable contri'
bution.
National Assistance Act, 1948 — Section 47.
National Assistance (Amendment) Act, 1951 — Section l(i).
Unfortunately a number of old people who live all by themselves,
in the course of time become anti-social, neglect themselves, and live in
gradually deteriorating circumstances. One of the most difficult problems
is to persuade these old people to accept the available services.
There is a need in the Borough for a development of "Housemother
Schemes" whereby lonely elderly people can be admitted to
small flats before they have become anti-social, and where they will
live comfortably under the watchful eye of the Housemother.
When an old person refuses all offers of help and is quite unwilling
to enter a home or hospital, it sometimes becomes necessary
to apply to the Court or a Magistrate for an Order for the Compulsory
Removal of the Patient to suitable accommodation. Two such
cases occurred during the year.
The first was an old woman who lived alone in a cottage, who
had refused any visiting or any assistance for a number of years.
When seen, she was in bed in an upstairs room, which was cluttered
with furniture and rubbish. There was a commode in the bedroom
and the outside water closet was barricaded. She was able to stand
but she was very infirm and was in a neglected and under-nourished
state. She refused to enter a home and, in the circumstances, application
was made to a Magistrate for a Removal Order, and she was
removed to "Kingsmead", Grove Road, Richmond, the same day. For
some days she was very troublesome in the Home, but later she settled
well and her health improved generally.
The second case was that of an old lady living with her aged
husband and who, up to that time, had been caring for her. The
husband became ill and was removed to hospital, and the old lady, left
alone, was quite incapable of managing for herself. She refused all
offers of help and, in the circumstances, application was made to a
Magistrate, who granted an Order and the patient was removed to
"Kingsmead". She also settled well in her new surroundings and
improved generally in health.
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