Plans to provide an improved community meals service for older and disabled people in Cumbria have been published by the county council.
At the end of last year, the council's Adult Social Care directorate commissioned a review of meals-on-wheels which has been struggling to attract volunteers and provide the sort of choice and flexibility users increasingly expect.
Under the new community meals service, people who need a hot meal will continue to receive one but will also get the option of weekly or fortnightly delivered frozen meals - with a much wider menu to choose from.
The frozen meals service will also be provided to more able meals-on-wheels users, and an extra £60,000 each year will be invested in local visiting services for those who require them.
The charge for a two-course hot meal will rise from £1.60 to £2.60 - just a penny more than the national average - and in return, a more varied menu will be provided with more vegetarian options and greater emphasis on people's individual dietary preferences. A two-course frozen meal will cost £2:00.
In addition to the flexibility provided by frozen meals - something the current service cannot provide - direct cash payments will be available to some people who want to make their own arrangements through a pub, café or local lunch club.
The county council funds the meals-on-wheels service and cooks the food in council kitchens, after which WRVS volunteers collect it and deliver it in their own cars. But delivery of the service has grown patchy, with more and more council staff required to prop up the service because of difficulties in recruiting new volunteers.
The proposals are being published today ahead of the council's annual budget setting meeting next Thursday (15 Februrary) and will be voted on by cabinet at its next meeting on Tuesday 20 Februrary.
Councillor Oliver Pearson, cabinet member responsible for Adult Social Care in Cumbria, said: "The new arrangements offer real choice and flexibility for individuals who want to receive the service.
"Our review of meals-on-wheels found that there is a desire for more choice and flexibility in the service.
"We know for instance that meals are sometimes not eaten, either because the menu for that day is not to a person's choosing or because they do not feel like eating at the time food is delivered.
"The new community meals service will help ensure people's individual tastes and preferences are properly catered for.
"All meals will meet rigorous nutritional standards and every person will have their needs regularly reviewed."
"There is sometimes a temptation to regard older people as one indistinguishable group who require the same services regardless of their individual circumstances and preferences.
"These proposals reflect the county council's recognition that people do not stop being individuals once they reach pensionable age."
ENDS
Media enquiries to Mark Graham, Media Officer on 01228-606337
Notes for editors
1. In December 2006, the Audit Commission said in its annual inspection report that Cumbria Adult Social Care had promising prospects for improvement but needed to increase the pace of change away from traditional models of care.
2. According to the latest Counsel & Care survey (2006) the average charge for meals-on-wheels across England and Wales is £2.59 per meal.
3. Between April 2006 and September 2006, Cumbria's meals-on-wheels service recorded a shortfall in volunteers equivalent to 237 hours.
4. If agreed by councillors, the increased meal charge will apply from April 2007 with the development of the new community meals service expected to be completed by early 2008.
5. The new community meals service will provide around 917 service users with the choice of a two-course hot or frozen meal, or a Direct Payment. The needs of around 762 people who receive no other Adult Social Care service will be assesed over the next twelve months with more able service users offered the choice of a two-course frozen meal.
6. You can view the paper at the link below.
Follow this link to view a copy of the paper (PDF)