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where they could enjoy a greater degree of
independence and privacy.
The Blind and Partially Sighted
'At the end of 1967 there were 132 males and
238 females registered as blind, four less than in
December 1966, 65 per cent being over the age
of 65 years. During the year there was only one
registration of any person under the age of 40
years, and of the total new registrations of 43
persons 91 per cent were over the age of 60
years.
'Social activities were extended and greater
holiday provision made.
The Physically Handicapped
'Work centre activity flourished during the year
under review, 64 handicapped persons
participating in industrial outwork supplied by
arrangements with local firms. The register
was reviewed during the year and although there
had been deletions because of deaths and
removals from the district, the total had increased
by over 100 persons, which still indicates that
the possible potential total of persons suffering
from physical handicaps who might be helped
by the welfare services of the borough is not
yet known. It is perhaps significant that the total
number of aids in issue had increased by
approximately 600 from the 1966 figures, and that
there had been 64 minor adaptations of
properties as compared with 36 in the previous
year. Aids themselves in 102 varieties, range from
armchair commodes to Zimmer walking aids.
The holiday service also expanded, with more
than 150 persons participating.
The Deaf and Hard of Hearing
'By the end of 1967 the whereabouts of 112 deaf
and hard of hearing persons had been ascertained
and visits made by the senior social welfare
officer for the deaf, whose services were used
on occasions by five neighbouring boroughs.
Close liaison was established with Heston School
for the Deaf, as 27 of the names on the register
are those of children up to the age of 16 years.
Homeless Families
'As foreshadowed in last year's brief report, the
council agreed to implement a new policy for
assisting families in distress from 1st April 1967.
Miscellaneous properties purchased for
redevelopment schemes were made available to
the department to house individual families,
and as a result the hostels were used basically
for initial assessment of homeless families, and
the period spent there reduced to a minimum. By
the end of the year 25 properties were in use,
and units in hostels had been set aside for the
use of unsupported mothers with one or two
children. The Children's Officer was not called
upon to take any children into care as a result
of homelessness of the parents.
Meals-on-Wheels
'This branch of the service retained its popularity
and for most of the year it was possible to
avoid waiting lists. 11 vehicles were used,
covering over 50,000 miles and carrying over
100,000 meals to provide a five day service
where necessary. Plans were agreed for the first
purpose built kitchen expected to be completed
in mid-1968.
Transport
'It was always envisaged that this aspect of the
welfare service would expand as quickly as it
was possible to provide suitable vehicles. Regular
meetings of voluntary organisations and outings
arranged by such groups and Leagues of Friends,
together with the weekly clubs and classes,
filled the transport diary, sometimes months in
advance, and thus it was often necessary to say
'Sorry, all transport is booked for that day'.
Total mileage of the special vehicles exceeded
60,000, a figure likely to increase each year.
Voluntary Effort
Great efforts were made during the early part of
the year by a host of volunteers to ascertain
the whereabouts of all the elderly in the borough.
Though the survey did not eventually cover
every part of the borough, thousands of houses
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