Annual report of the Medical Officer of Health for the year 1961.

  • Bermondsey (London, England). Metropolitan Borough.
Date:
[1962]
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)

Credit: Annual report of the Medical Officer of Health for the year 1961. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    17/48 (page 15)
    OLD PEOPLES WELFARE I must again stress the value of encouraging the elderly to venture out as often as they are able. This is particularly important where the elderly who live alone are concerned. They can all too easily allow themselves to become careless in their personal cleanli ness and to be easily satisfied with a makeshift meal. We are for tunate in Bermondsey that there are so many voluntary clubs catering solely for elderly people where this class of person can find some companionship. The Meals on Wheels service is proving invaluable in meeting the needs of the elderly handicapped person who lives alone. This section of the community requires a great deal of attention from the Welfare Services. A nucleus of old people requiring baths either in their own homes or in the Disinfecting Station numbered approximately 44 per week during the year. The old people who by reason of their medical condition required their bed linen and personal clothing to be cleansed by the Laundry Service averaged 59 per week. Municipal Club The Club now in its fourth year has an increased enrolled membership of 458. This increase is due in no small measure to the improved accommodation provided by the extension to the Club which was completed in October. It was interesting to note that during the structural alterations members remained loyal. They apparently were not disturbed by the activities of the builders. The Mayor accompanied by the Mayoress and other Members of the Council opened the extension in November. The Old Time Dancing classes, whist drives, darts and similar games form the basis of the Club's weekly programme. The pro gramme is varied when the opportunity occurs by outings to the countryside and visits to the theatre and the cinema. The seat price concession for old people at many West End theatres and cinemas enables members to visit matinee performances at a price more suited to their pockets. The Arts and Crafts class introduced last year is increasing in its popularity. A part of members under the guidance of the Club Organiser and her husband spent a fortnight's holiday in Jersey. The journey, which was made by air, was for these people an exciting and an adventurous one. By arrangement with the Entertainments Officer, concert parties have played a number of times at the Club. This form of entertain ment is always popular with the old people. The Annual Outing of the Club and Workrooms was again to Southsea on 21st June. The number of members attending was 152 which was slightly higher than the figure for the previous year.