Smyrna times., 1936-04-02
WELFARE
HOME CROWDED
Annual Report of Institution
At Smyrna Shows Needs
In Various Details
MANY ON WAITING LIST

The Old Age Welfare Home near
Smyrna had an average daily wait
ing list of about AZ persons last
year, the Old Age Welfare Com
mission states in its 1885 report of
the home. On New Years day of
last year 10 persons were awaiting
admission to the home, and Al per-
sons were on the waiting list on
last December 81. During the year,
a total of 392 were on the waiting
list while 149 persons were admit
ted.
THE Welfare Home" the report
states, with it's present equipment
was designed to house 235 guests.
This number has been exceeded
ever since opening. The population
of the home has crept higher and
higher owing to the pressing needs
of those requiring admission. Dur
ing the year 1885 the average daily
population has ben 344 and the
number has often exceeded $50.
This excessive overcrowding is far
from ideal, especially as some of
the guests have to sleep on army
cots in two small rooms in the
basement which is also used for
housing transients. This housing
of regular guests in such a manner
was only adopted as a last resort
as it was thought to be better than
having them neglected out in the
community"
Financial Statement of Operations
The report gives wide range
statement of he operations of the
home, and also the activities of the
welfare commission along the lines
of outside relief. The total main
tenance cost at the home during
the year was S131, ,981 or S1.046
per patient per day during 1885.
During the year, the commission
administered outside relief to $50
families or 290 persons
"At the last regular session of
the State Legislature in the spring
of 1885," the commission states,
"an appropriation of $4,000 was
granted to be used for outside re-
lief purposes as there was nc
money available for this purpose in
the welfare home budget. This
$4,000 was to be matched by the
counties and handled in the same
method as the welfare home bud
get funds. This sum of money was
an immediate grant and was to be
used for the latter half of the fiscal
year 1934-1935.
For the bienniltm ending June
80, 1887, the Legislature appro-
priated a total of $4,000, $4,000
to be made available annually. This
money was to be matched by ar
equal amount from the various
counties and was to be handled in
the same manner as the welfare
home moneys.
I'm March, 1885, special out.
side relief department was set uT
in the home under the supervision
of the director of social service
Two investigators and one clerica
worker were employed. Two Chev
rolet coaches, together with offic'
furniture, were purchased and of
fee space set aside in room OF
the first floor of the medical cente
building. Since it has been organ
lied, this department has function
ed very efficiently. Adequate rec
. ords have been kept and CORES
pondence on various cases has bee
, kept up to date. No cash has bee
, given, but orders for food, fue
rent, ETC., have been issued"
The introduction of the commits
! sion's report gives the followin
J highlights:
e I49 Guests We're Admitted
S "Of the 149 guests admitted t
: the home during 1885, 85 wer
: from New Castle County, 35 wer
: from Kent County, and 20 wei
q from Sussex County.
t THE first admissions were refel
n red by various institutions, ager
e cies, physicians. clergymen, friend
e relatives and interested private il
$ diuduals. Thirty-two or 21.48 pa
h cent were referred by private ind
} viduals; 16 or 1918 per cent /
6 physicians; "a or 1911 per cent /
II general hospitals; 13 or 1872 p'
IS cent by the applicant himself;
d or 8.72 per cent by the Old AS
d Welfare Commission; IL or sos p'
n cent by relatives; 10 or GIL p
IS cent by the Temporary Emergent
It Relief Commission; or 1856 p'
r, cent each by The Family Societ
d and the State Board of Health;
r or 2.68 per cent by various cou
n officials; or 2.01 per cent each b.
lie the State Board of Charities al
,r the outside relief department
ID the State Welfare Home; 2 or L.:
'f per cent each by clergymen and Il
2 Delaware Commission for Il
Y Blind. and / or 0.67 per cent eat