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47
hospital, there are those who require more than daytime care at home,
and yet less than the full medical care of the hospital. For such the
Area Welfare Officer endeavours to arrange accommodation in
residential homes set up under the National Assistance Act, 1948.
Prior to this Act much was said and written of "institutions" and
of how they were to become "homes" in fact as well as in name.
The name change has been made and management humanised, but
owing to few new homes being erected it has been necessary to
continue to use the old institutional buildings, which can never
provide the qualities intended by the new legislation; nor are there
as yet anything like sufficient homes for aged persons desirous of
being admitted. Despite the frustration of having too little accommodation
at their disposal the Area Welfare Officer and his staff
have done everything possible in visiting, assisting and co-operating
with others for the benefit of the needy old people in the district.
Another such example was afforded by the Assistance Officer and his
staff at the local offices of the National Assistance Board. Through
them willing help has been given, both in money and in kind. For
example, blankets, bedding, clothing were sometimes provided,
and in certain cases of incapacity payments were made to enable
laundry to be sent out. When necessary there were always available
supplements to old age pensions and monetary assistance at any age.
covering a variety of handicapped conditions. These have been
arranged without the stigma of charity, and fully in accord with the
principles of national insurance.
Many persons referred to the Health Department as being in
need of care and attention proved, on investigation, to be so only in
relation to the condition of their housing accommodation. Here
the district sanitary inspectors were often able to assist the occupants
in making the home suitable for continued occupation. When
possible and appropriate, by co-operation with the Housing Manager,
aged couples were offered suitable accommodation in speciallydesigned
old people's flats on the Corporation estates.
Those who sought care and attention through voluntary agencies
turned, in the main, to the British Red Cross Society, Women's
Voluntary Service and the Old Age Pensioners' Associations. These
organisations offered friendship, advice and the attraction of shared
activities. The British Red Cross Society provided its members
with domestic help, nursing in their home and a chiropody service
at the local headquarters and, in addition, the facilities of "Evergreen"
clubs. The Women's Voluntary Service either provided a