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Close liaison has been kept with voluntary organisations such as the Royal Association in Aid of the
Deaf and Dumb, the South East Regional Association for the Deaf, and the Middlesex and Surrey League for
the Hard of Hearing, to all of which the Council makes a grant, and also with the Royal National Institute of
the Deaf concerned with general welfare and the training of officers at the College of Deaf Welfare.
REGISTRATION OF DISABLED PERSONS' OR OLD PERSONS' HOMES
Section 37 of the National Assistance Act, 1948 requires disabled persons' and old persons' homes to
be registered by the Council. There are three private old persons' homes on the register—22, St. Gabriel's Road,
N.W.2, accommodating 16 men and women; 28, Sedgecombe Avenue, Kenton, accommodating 8 women; and
39, Sedgecombe Avenue, Kenton, accommodating 8 men and women. A voluntary home for 30 elderly men is
maintained by the London Transport Executive (Retired Employees) Housing Association at 100, Forty
Avenue, Wembley. Towards the end of the year, work started on the building of an extension to this home.
The Royal London Society for the Blind maintains a residential club for 14 blind men at 63, Christchurch
Avenue, N.W.6, and a similar establishment for 14 blind women at 32, The Avenue, N.W.6. The Royal
National Institute for the Deaf maintains a hostel for 16 deaf youths at 11, Forty Avenue, Wembley.
All these homes are inspected at regular intervals and a high standard is maintained.
REMOVAL TO SUITABLE PREMISES OF PERSONS IN NEED
OF CARE AND ATTENTION
Section 47 of the National Assistance Act, 1948, permits the Council to remove to an Institution a
person in need of care and attention; an Order for removal is given by a Court of Summary Jurisdiction, but
7 clear days notice of an intended application must be given. The National Assistance (Amendment) Act, 1951,
permits immediate removal, provided the Medical Officer of Health and another Registered Medical Practitioner
certify that it is in the interests of the person to remove him without delay. The Order in this case can be
made either by a Court of Summary Jurisdiction or by a single Justice having such jurisdiction. The amending
Act modifies the period from three months to three weeks for a person to be detained in the first instance.
Two cases were removed under the above Act. Mrs. H„ aged 86 years was living with her mentally
handicapped daughter who looked after her, preparing meals and doing the shopping. Her daughter's health
deteriorated and she was admitted to hospital on 18th March, 1968. Mrs. H. was unable to care for herself
and agreed to enter one of the Council's residential homes. When transport arrived at her house she refused
to go. An application was made on 19th March, 1968, to a Justice of the Peace for an Order for her removal.
She was admitted on that day to one of the Council's residential homes, 5/9, Freeland Road, Ealing, W.5, and
has since expressed her desire to stay there as a resident.
Mrs. K., aged 76 years, was mentally confused and was living in insanitary conditions. She refused to
be admitted to hospital for treatment and an application was made on 9th April, 1968, to a Justice of the
Peace for an Order for her removal. She was admitted on that day to the Central Middlesex Hospital.
Several cases were investigated during the year but it was possible by the provision of additional
services such as Home Help, Home Nurse and Meals-on-Wheels to avoid the necessity of further action.
TEMPORARY CARE AND PROTECTION OF PROPERTY
In accordance with Section 48 of the National Assistance Act, the Department undertook responsibility
for the care and protection of movable property of 24 residents who were admitted to hospital when it became
apparent that no other suitable arrangements were being made. In 5 other cases the Department was able to
discharge its duties by arranging for relatives or friends to assume responsibility and to indemnify the Council
accordingly.
At the end of the year the property of 28 residents was in store in the annex of "Mardale" Residential
Home.
BURIAL OF THE DEAD
In accordance with the provisions of section 50 of the National Assistance Act, 1948, arrangements
were made for the burial or cremation of 29 persons during the year. Seventeen of these were residents of the
Council's residential homes.
WELFARE SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY IN THE COMMUNITY
The Council continued to provide various services for the elderly under the National Assistance Act
1948 (Amendment) Act, 1962, broadly defined as the provision of meals, and recreation in the home and
elsewhere.
Ten luncheon clubs continued to operate during 1968, and 58,264 meals, prepared by the School Meals
Service, were served in the clubs at a charge of 1/3d. The meals-on-wheels service continued to be operated
in conjunction with the Women's Royal Voluntary Service, deliveries being made on two or three days per
week. Seven vehicles are in use on the service on peak delivery days. 37,388 meals were delivered in 1968, at
the same charge of 1 /3d. Considerable difficulty was experienced during the year due to sickness in staffiing
the kitchen at the Kensal Rise Senior Club where meals are prepared for delivery in the Willesden area.
The meals for the Wembley area are supplied by the School Meals Service.