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Blind Club the Club for the Hard of Hearing the two Philanthropic Societies
and the Chiswick Mission
The Brentford Philanthropic Society owns a home Scott Lodge for eleven
elderly persons and now has under consideration a scheme for an extension to
provide an additional nine flatlets The Chiswick Mission owns two houses which
are let to aged persons the number of tenants is eight, and the tenants, each
of whom has one room pay a small nominal rent
Money is available for relief of distress, provided from the Brentford and
Chiswick sick Poor Persons Fund During 1963 thirty persons were given assist
ance by provision of fuel, bedding clothing or other essentials
Slipper Baths
Under the scheme for the provision at reduced rates (Id per bath with soap
and towel) of slipper baths for old people at the Public Baths Establishments
2 077 baths were taken in Chiswick and 1,470 in Brentford
Meals on Wheels
The provision of a hot dinner once a day for an old person living alone may
make all the difference between health and malnutrition The Meals on wheels
Service operated by the Brentford and Chiswick Welfare Organisation continued
to expand during 1963 A third van was brought into service in 1963, and this
relieved the waiting list so that for a short time the vans were not working
above capacity but the numbers of meals recipients continued to rise, soon
these vans were overloaded and the need for a fourth van became apparent During
the year the Welfare Organisation was disbanded and the Borough Council set up
a Welfare Committee to control the existing Welfare services and expand where
necessary
The number of meals rose from 26,874 supplied to 204 elderly persons in
1962 to 31,203 supplied to 238 persons in 1963
Laundry for the Incontinent Aged
The scheme for the provision of laundry facilities for the incontinent aged,
was carried on throughout the year Old people in need of this service were
brought to the notice of the Public Health Department staff from various sources,
then arrangements were made for the Department s van to call each week to collect
the soiled linen deliver it to the laundry, and to transport the clean linen
back again to the home of the old person No charge was made for the service
but for each case a certificate was submitted to the Public Health committee
During the year fifteen old persons had been recommended for and obtained
this service
Holidays for the Elderly
In May 1963 40 elderly persons were provided (by the Brentford and Chiswick
Welfare Organisation) with a free holiday for one week Holidays for elderly
persons were also provided by other local organisations viz the two Philanthropic
Societies and Chiswick Mission
Home Safety
The difficulty in obtaining statistics with regard to the occurrence of
accidents in the home is considerable Some knowledge of the types of accident
most likely to occur can be assessed from the deaths returns but as this is a
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