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10
This was the case of an old lady living alone who was admitted
to hospital suffering from burns. She had set fire to her bedroom
and it was felt that it would be quite unsafe to allow her to return
home.
After having notice served upon her she agreed to go voluntarily
into Kingsmead Old People's Home. After some weeks she settled
down happily and eventually relinquished the tenancy of her home.
The comparatively large number of old people who live alone
in the district forms a distressing problem.
Action under the National Assistance Act was contemplated
on more than one occasion but in each case the problem was finally
solved in other ways.
A great deal is done for these old people by the Divisional
Welfare Officer and every possible help is given through the
domicilliary services which are available.
The policy generally is to help them as much as possible in
their own homes and only to resort to action under Section 47 when
every other means has failed and there is danger to the life or health
of the individual or those living in the same house.