View report page

24
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
seven 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.
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 statutory 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 23 residents who were admitted to hospital when it
became apparent that no other suitable arrangements were being made. In four 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 23 residents was in store in the annexe 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 37 persons during the year. Twenty-three 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.
Eleven luncheon clubs operated during 1969, and 60,492 meals, prepared by the School Meals
Service, were served in the clubs at a charge of l/3d. The meals-on-wheels service continued to be run 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. 38,410 meals were delivered in 1969,
at the same charge of 1 / 3d. Considerable difficulty was experienced during the year due to sickness in staffing
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.
Once again the three full-time social centres in the Borough—the Willesden Green and Kensal Rise
Senior Clubs and the "49" Club—have had successful years, a varied programme of social activities having
been arranged by the respective House Committees. The Council also provided premises for two full-time
clubs for men in the Wembley area—the Barham Park and Kingsbury Veterans' Clubs.
During 1969, arrangements were made for pensioners to have two weeks' holiday at three south coast
resorts. Six hundred and eighty-two pensioners participated in the scheme at an all-in charge of £4 to each
applicant. In addition, the Council made grants to 76 persons towards the cost of privately arranged holidays
or to persons going on group holidays organised by bodies other than the Council. The Department also
arranged two summer holidays for elderly ladies with the Women's Holiday Fund. As in previous years a
grant of £50 was made towards the cost of holidays for elderly Brent patients in Shenley Hospital.
More than 40 afternoon clubs operate in the Borough, and during the winter months the Council,
through the Entertainments Department, arranged monthly concerts for the majority of these Clubs. In
addition, a series of variety matinees were presented at the Town Hall free of charge to pensioners. Free
transport was arranged from the more outlying areas of the Borough. Several clubs received grants to help
pay the rent of the premises and to help with additional Christmas expenses.
The Council continued to make available welfare foods, such as Complan, Horlicks, Ovaltine,
Bovril, Marmite and tea at reduced prices. These are sold at and delivered to 35 clubs and clinics in the
Borough. Sales amounted to almost £5,100.
In August, an outing was arranged to Bray-on-Thames for just over 60 elderly housebound people.
Transport was arranged by the Council and the old people were conveyed from and to their homes. Council
transport also conveyed non-ambulant members to and from seven old people's clubs.
At Christmas the Council, in conjunction with the Brent Christmas Comforts Fund for Old People,
distributed 1,689 food parcels to those most in need over 70. In addition, the Department supplied to
various organisations and schools within the Borough, the names of 140 persons who would not otherwise
have received a parcel. The Council also made a grant of £60 to the South Kilburn Old Folks' Fund to help
them supply parcels to pensioners in the Carlton and Kilburn Wards of the Borough.