What does Meals on Wheels do?

• Meals on Wheels provides a nutritionally balanced meal to frail, aged people, people with a disability, and their carers. The service is not means tested.

• Meals on Wheels enables people to be independent in their own homes for longer. Most people prefer to live at home, but in many cases they need support to do this. Without Community Services such as Meals on Wheels clients are at risk of premature admission to aged care.

• Meals on Wheels seek to actively educate clients and reduce the high risk of malnutrition in older people. Improving nutrition reduces falls and other associated health risks in older people.

• Often a Meals on Wheels meal is the highest source of nutritional content for a client who would otherwise exist on tea and toast.

• Meals on Wheels volunteers are often the only daily point of contact for recipients, serving to decrease their social isolation and assist in monitoring their health and well being.

• Taste, visual appeal andmeeting cultural needs of CALD (Culturally And Linguistically Diverse) clients is also a priority. Special diets (e.g. gluten-free) are catered for.

Photo Credit: Andrea Piacquadio (Pexels)