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46
Shoe He pairs
11 dockets were issued to enable old people to get footwear repaired at areduced rate.
Barber Service
57 old people were visited in their homes by the Barber.
Harvest Festival
580 old people benefited by the kindness and generosity of schools and Churches who sent
their Harvest Festival Thanksgiving for distribution by the Committee.
Visits and General Welfare
This essential service has increased considerably and there are now 2,000 patients on the
books who are visited periodically. Since the 1st April, 1960, 18 voluntary visitors have been
enrolled making a total now of 21 visitors and 36 voluntary workers altogether excluding those at
clubs. This means that the elderly people can be visited more frequently.
A house to house survey was started during the year to obtain the names of all Old Age
Pensioners and from this we have found many who are in need of the services.
The statistics show that during the year 1,100 domiciliary visits have been made by the
Organiser and her Assistant. This is an increase of 339 since last year. In addition 300 visits
have been made by voluntary workers besides the many social calls which visitors make to the
old people.
Many patients bring their problems to the office and during the year 2,440 office interviews
have been conducted, an increase of 601 on last year and 167 visits made to clubs.
These figures give only a slight indication of the amount of work and often hours of follow
' up is involved in some of the cases.
Welfare Homes
It is the statutory duty of the County Council to make this provision. Although there is at
present no home in Tottenham, one is now under construction on part of the Broadwater Farm site
adjoining Higham Road and it is expected that this will be completed in 1961. Great difficulty
still exists in obtaining admissions to homes outside the Borough and very long delays may be
experienced before a place can be obtained.
National Assistance Act. 1948 , Section 47
It was necessary on one occasion to exercise these powers in 1960. An old lady of 87 years
who had been bedridden for some time was being cared for by an elderly niece, who was far from
well herself. Eventually the niece became ill and had to leave so that the old Jady was reliant
upon others living in the house and the domiciliary nursing and home help services With some
difficulty a hospital place was found for the patient, but at the last moment she refused to go.
As a matter of urgency the provisions of the National Assistance (Amendment) Act, 1951 were
invoked and a Magistrates Order obtained for her immediate removal to hospital.