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CONCLUSION
In 1965 plans were made to weld the services transferred from the London County Council
and the various voluntary organisations carrying out chiropody, into a unified service as the needs
for the Borough were assessed. The year 1966, has been one of development and expansion and
at the end of the year chiropody services were available in the majority of the welfare centres as
well as in other premises and plans have been made for further expansion.
Much has been done by the geriatric visitors to make the elderly aware of and to get them
to use our chiropody services.
MEALS FOR OLD PEOPLE
MEALS ON WHEELS
During 1966 approximately 79,100 dinners were provided in Camden for the elderly housebound
where relatives, a home help or good neighbours were not available for shopping and cooking.
This compares with 66,500 meals provided in 1965. The increase was due mainly to a greater number
of elderly people being found who required meals, which in turn was a direct result of the increase
in the number of geriatric visitors employed by the Council.
INVALID MEALS
Persons irrespective of age who are housebound and need special diets are provided with
invalid meals. The diets include gastric, diabetic, high protein, salt-free types, etc. Prior to 28
March 1966 invalid meals were provided by the Borough of Islington on behalf of the Council, but
as from that date, the service was undertaken directly by the Council. During the year 26,200 invalid
meals were delivered, mostly of light diets.
CHRISTMAS DINNERS
On Christmas Day 1966 a wonderful voluntary effort was made by young people from Task
Force, who cooked Christmas Dinners consisting of turkey with stuffing and vegetables and two
mince pies and delivered them to 34 old people in the Borough. The cost of the meals was met by
Camden Old People's Welfare Association and the meals vans were loaned by the Council.
GENERAL
Meals on wheels and invalid meals are provided on five days per week. Each meal consists
of a main dish and a sweet, for which a charge of 10d is made, the Council bearing the remainder of
the cost. The meals were obtained from three commercial firms. Assistance in the distribution of
the meals was given during the year by voluntary bodies: the W.R.V.S. in the Southern area and the
B.R.C.S. and the Camden Old People's Welfare Association in the Northern area of the Borough.
Meals for ambulant elderly in need were also provided by the Welfare Department both
directly and through voluntary organisations at eight luncheon clubs throughout the Borough. That
Department also issued meals vouchers to the elderly, mostly men, who though active might not
bother to cook themselves proper meals.
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