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Shock as meal service is axed
Tuesday 13th January 2009, 11:30AM GMT.
A troubled meals on wheels service in the Black Country is being axed hitting 350 elderly and disabled people, it has been revealed.
Falling user numbers and rising costs of running the council-run scheme at Dudley have been blamed for its withdrawal. Council bosses say the service will be phased out by 2011.
Paul Hodgetts, whose 88-year-old mother Kathleen relies on meals on wheels, says he is “utterly staggered” at the move.
The 59-year-old semi-retired electrical retailer of Woodthorne Close, Lower Gornal, said: “I had a call from a social worker to tell me she had arranged to go and see my mum to tell her that the meals on wheels service is being withdrawn.
“My mum has been having the meals for three years. It is crucial in two ways – she gets a meal which she isn’t capable of preparing herself.
“But also it is a daily check-up that someone is answering the door, which is just as important.”
Councillor Peter Miller, cabinet member for adult and community services, had warned meals on wheels was on the way out because it could not compete with rivals and low price in supermarkets.
He said: “The service is basically phasing itself out.”
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Should be made illegal to stop these services for the needy.
The Council have obviously found a better use for the money.
But what is it?
Pay rise for the Councillors, more money for Gays, Lesbians and Ethnic Minorities? Any more thoughts?
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Re Codsallman, I can think of many other reasons but E&S will not publish as they say they say that they are racist comments.
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Disgrace!!!!!!! yet again Dudley Council. It will the childrens services next. No heart just keep the rates bills down in Pedmore and other Tory millionaire areas.
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If this is what the Conservatives are going to do ,then God help us if they get into Goverment again.Get a life ! Think of the elderely!
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Thought it was only sandwell council people moaned at on this site? Well at least this is fresh, and a tory one at that-hope your reading this Jim.
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what a silly statement from peter miller to blame supermarkets if they cant compete buy the supermarket ready meals i do not know what meals on wheels charge but you can get a ready meal for around a pound from most of the supermarkets tasty they are too cant these council eggheads think of an alternative to a problem
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”And to lie quietly down.And die”.Am I still allowed to say that this stinks? What do other towns of the same size do? All this requires is a bit of initiative,careful buying AND A BIT OF HEART.Has even that gone too?
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I am not condoning what the council is proposing. However, let us look at possible solutions:
1. Buy ready meals from the Supermarket, as cheap or cheaper than meals on wheels, who I believe charge £2.20 per meal (last years figure).
2. Ensure you parent/grandparent has a decent freezer and buy Wiltshire Farm Foods, who produce good meals and sweets done in the microwave.
3. The preparation or cooking of these meals could be done by Social Service carers who I assume would visit the elderly in need of the meals anyway.
4. If meals on wheels can’t come to the elderly, then take the elderly to a day centre where they could enjoy a hot meal and at the same time enjoy some company.
I have had relations who have used all the above, with a preference to Wiltshire food with assistance, but enjoyed all options. I am sure the council will look at alternatives for those who require this service prior to phasing it out as they are obliged by law to do so.
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Has Paul, the 59 year SEMI-RETIRED electrical engineer ever thought that he might want to start looking after his elderly mother a little more himself? The acceptance of his selfishness by readership and society alike is one of the core reasons why society has fragmented so much in the past 20 years, and yet its normally the mosty selfish elements of society that complain the most. Bring her home Paul, and bring her back into your family, she is your MOTHER after all.
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Well Paul, why can’t you cook your old Mom a meal now and then ?
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Hows about trying a company called Wiltshire Farm foods. Their telephone number is 01384 262555 or go to http://www.wiltshirefarmfoods.com frozen meals delivered right to your front door
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Woody, In Dudley the meals on wheels increased to £3.50 so it was a fairly large increase in Sept.
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well put jags spot on
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All comments noted with interest. It looks as if the Council has already back-pedalled on this anyway – we will see. Bye the way I am so selfish that I visit my mom almost every day, take her shopping every week and she visits us for a meal every weekend – she is left to cater for herself one day only. My wife spends even more time looking after her mother who is 94. Perhaps, Jags Singh, we should have them both to live with us?
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Blimey Anon, if that is the case, then they could buy the “special/treat yourself/simply the best” ranges from the supermarkets! or the best range from Wiltshire Farm Foods.
Also agree with, 9, 10 and 13. Shame on that son who cannot make time for his mother.
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I am reminded of the phrase “let them eat cake”; have you ever had to eat a supermarket ready meal Jag?!
Another example of “compassionate Cameronism” in action!
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comments 1 & 2 are obviously made by bigots!
I agree however that cutting this service to vulnerable people is disgusting
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Apologies to Paul. Again, without the full facts I am guilty if assumption, which we all know is the “mother of all **** ups!”.
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I work at a local Council and think I ought to put you right about a few things. The meals are provided after an assessment has taken place, only vulnerable people are able to access the service. This as a rule means people who are not physically able or are not motivated to prepare a meal. So yes you can buy a frozen meals from the supermarket but
1) You would have to be physically able to re-heat the meal
2) You would have to remember to re-heat the meal (service users with dementia would be unable to do this)
3) as some service users live alone and have no family – to order/collect or arrange delivery of meals would be complicated (i.e. at 89)
Our Council Meal Service also provides a daily welfare check on vulnerable people, supermarkets or private meals providers are unable to do this unless they call daily.
Meals On Wheels can also also pop the meal on a plate, take the lids off the dinner, cut the food up, fetch the client a glass of water etc. Meals on Wheels do not just deliver a meal. This is where they differ to the above mentioned. Day Centres are an excellent way of promoting independence, but most users would not want to do this 7 days a week, and a lot of users are not physically able to attend a day centre, this is where meals on wheels can help. This can only be a bad move and will effect service users dramatically. I think the comments directed at Paul are out of order, everyones cicumstances and families are different. When families are providing other care i.e collecting prescriptions/taking to appointments, popping round daily, shopping etc. (Is is unrealistic to expect Paul/SEMI retired to be able to cook hot meals for his mother everyday, how many of us cook our selves hot meals x7?) I think any assistance made available to carers/families should be!
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Thanks Nick for your description of the meals on wheels service you said it better than I could! We have tried to get my mom to go to the Day Centre but she just does not want to – and we can’t force her. Myself and my wife do our best to look after our respective mothers but WE DO HAVE A LIFE OF OUR OWN. We have a meeting with a social worker at mom’s flat on Thursday after which we will know more (probably!).
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Wiltshire Farm Foods has been incredible in helping my Mum out with twice weekly deliveries. She has a regular driver and he’ll even put the meals away in her freezer for her and nothing is too much trouble. They’ve been a godsend. The branch I use is Brierley Hill and I contact them on 01384 262555. Three cheers for Wiltshire Farm Foods!!!
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Perhaps the councillors could cut costs by eating cheap, non fresh, low nutrition ready meals themselves.
How are supermarkets competing with “meals on wheels”? Do they deliver heated meals to the elderly and disabled then?
An elderly person’s digestive system is not as efficient as younger adults so at the very least they should be getting high quality, fresh, organic food.
Why is it that people who NEED the highest quality food i.e. the elderly and hospital patients get the least fresh, nutritious and poorly prepared food?
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comment 21 – I don’t know about three cheers!… sounds more like free advertising to me!
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Well said Paul, it’s ok everyone spouting off to have your mom, she is lucky and so is your wifes mom that they have children, some old people do not have any famiy at all, hope some of the readers take this into account, also you get some who choose to close the door to family and friends and become a recluse, that’s where the deliveries come in, as one lady said, it’s aother check that they are ok, most people who have elderly parents are still at work themselves…… so when do they get to go only after work, never met a boss yet who would let you go check on your mom, mine would not, but I did use his phone everyday to check she was ok, ‘my only bonus’. Hope these council people never have to be in that situation but with their fat pensions they can employ a live in maid………… they claim for everything else on expences now lining their pockets for their old age….
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I have some sympathy for Paul, many people are too quick to criticise without knowing the full facts. My parents are beginning to struggle but I’m a non driver, work full-time, have my own disability and getting through breast cancer so dread the day they will need my help as I struggle with my own health home and work.
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