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Total number of persons admitted to old people's homes during 1955 was 22
19 to County Council Homes 3 to Homes provided by Voluntary Organisations
Chiropody
A service was maintained throughout the year by the Middlesex County Council
whereby old people could have their foot defects treated at reduced cost or free
of charge.
Figures of the numbers taking advantage of this Service can be found on
page 15,
Old Folks Friendship Club
This is a specially built club house opened in April, 1955, for the use of
old age pensioners living in Brentford and Chiswick as a social and recreational
centre. The club is open Monday to Friday, and there is a full-time organiser
in attendance. The old people are enrolled as members at their first attendance,
membership costs only one penny per week, and there are about 400 names on the
register. The members can visit for rest room or reading room facilities, or
just to meet their friends and talk, but many social occasions are provided for
them in the way of concerts, whist drives, etc. A television set is installed
in the lounge, and a radiogram in the concert hall. Light refreshments are
available morning and afternoon
Through this club the members are also able to obtain information about
the special services at reduced rates which are available within the Borough
for them, such as laundry,shoe repairs and hairdressing, and they can be given
advice on any difficulties that occur in their private lives.
This is the only club premises open daily for the use of old age pensioners
but there are 9 clubs meeting in different parts of the Borough once a week to
which mobile old age pensioners become attached as members for social and
recreational purposes.
Slipper Baths
Under the scheme for the provision at the reduced rates (2d, per bath) of
slipper baths for old people at the Public Baths Establishments, 1,926 baths
were taken in Chiswick and 671 in Brentford,
These figures show again a slight increase over those for the previous
year.
Meals on Wheels
The new service of meals provided by the Invalid Kitchens of London has
proved immensely useful and very popular. These meals are provided on 5 days
per week and special diets can be arranged for, i.e. in the case of old people
suffering from gastric ulcers, diabetes, etc. The cost of the meal to the old
age pensioner receiving it is tenpence and this is supplemented by a grant from
the Borough Council to cover part of the remainder of the cost of the meal,
overheads and transport are provided by the Invalid Kitchens of London itself
by means of funds raised by voluntary effort.
Persons in need of this service and eligible for it were brought to the
notice of the staff of the Public Health Department and a certificate signed by
the Medical Officer of Health for those who were to be authorised to receive the
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