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Once again demands for assisted holidays increased in 1966. Arrangements were made for parties
of pensioners to have two weeks' holiday at various South Coast resorts. Six hundred and two holidays
were arranged at a charge of £4 all-in to each applicant and in addition 48 grants were made either for
privately-arranged holidays for persons who for good reason could not participate in the group arrangements,
or to persons going on group holidays organised by bodies other than the Council.
The Department also arranged with the Women's Holiday Fund, five summer holidays and twelve
Christmas holidays for elderly ladies. A grant of £50 was made towards the cost of holidays for elderly
Brent patients in Shenley Hospital.
For the elderly who can get about, more than 40 afternoon clubs operate in the Borough and the
Department maintained contact with them, both to circulate information and to help and encourage where
possible. During the winter months most of these clubs have monthly concerts provided by the Council
through the Entertainments Department. In addition a series of variety matinees was promoted at the Town
Hall, attended by several hundred pensioners, those from the more outlying areas being conveyed to the Town
Hall by free coaches. Several clubs received grants from the Council to pay the rent of premises for
meetings and to help with Christmas arrangements.
The sale of welfare foods at reduced prices was again extended during the year. Complan, Horlicks,
Ovaltine, Bovril, Marmite and tea are sold at cost price and delivered regularly to 35 clubs, clinics
and other outlets, sales amounted to almost £4,000.
In September, two outings were arranged into the country for just over 100 elderly housebound
people, including a number confined to wheel-chairs. Special coaches, minibuses, cars provided by the
Council, and a number of voluntary cars, conveyed the old people from and to their homes. Council transport
also conveyed housebound persons to the two Senior Qubs on two afternoons per week throughout the
year. Investigations were being made at the end of the year into providing transport to get non-mobile
elderly to other clubs.
At Christmas, 2,155 food parcels were distributed to those over 70. This was a joint effort between
the Council and the recently constituted Brent Christmas Comforts Fund for Old People, which received
donations in cash and kind from the staffs of local industrial concerns, businessmen and private individuals.
Partly with the help of a grant from the Council, some 550 parcels were also distributed in the Carlton and
Kilburn Wards by the South Kilburn Old Folks Fund.
Once again, it was possible from the Harvest Festival offerings at local schools to distribute a
substantial number of parcels of fresh produce and other foods to housebound old persons with the mealson-wheels.
The Medical Officer continued to act as local representative for such charitable organisations as Wireless
for the Bedridden Society and the Steiner Charity, which make free radio and television sets available to
the bedridden and housebound, and for the National Society for Cancer Relief in the payment of weekly
allowances to elderly patients.
Facilities for officers of the Department to be available at various centres for interviewing elderly
people to help with a diversity of problems were maintained, and the Department's Social Workers concerned
with old people's welfare continued their numerous visits to assess needs for the various services as well as
to assist in many other ways particularly those old people at risk.
The Council has continued, through the London Boroughs Association and other representative
bodies, to press for travel concessions for pensioners, which at present under the Public Service Vehicles
(Travel Concessions) Act, 1955, and Travel Concessions Act, 1964, are restricted to municipally owned
transport undertakings. The Minister of Transport has agreed to consult representatives of local authorities
early in 1967 with a view to amending the existing legislataion.
OLD PEOPLE'S CLINICS
The Geriatric Clinics continued weekly during the year. The Monday morning session at Neasden
was well attended, whereas few cases came to the Mortimer Road session on Wednesday. It is gratifying to
note that many active 80 to 90 year olds came by themselves to the Clinics, indeed 45 attendances were made
by this age group and all but three were women. Much useful help and advice can be given at these Clinic
sessions and more and more elderly people should make use of this free service. Letters are always sent
to the patient's general practitioner after each session.
Forty-two sessions were held during 1966, 252 attendances were made and 25 new patients seen.
The vast majority were women aged between 70 and 79 and rheumatism and allied conditions were the main
cause of complaint.
In addition to the various problems discussed, the Medical Officer in attendance arranged the
following:—
No. of patients
Courses of chiropody 39
Visits by social workers 30
Courses of physiotherapy 18
Council aided holidays 12
Membership of Senior Clubs 4
Home help service 3
Home nursing service 1
Visit by mental welfare officer 1
Hospital visit 1
Admission to old person's home 1