Plans to develop meals-on-wheels into an improved community meals service for older and disabled people in Cumbria have been approved by county council's cabinet today.
Last week, Cumbria County Council agreed at its annual budget setting meeting to invest an extra £4.3 million in Adult Social Care services over the next financial year.
The above inflation increase, which will include any extra revenue raised from services like community meals, will be used to help provide more individually tailored support for Cumbria's 12,500 Adult Social Care service users.
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 new charges will apply from April 2007 with the development of the new community meals service expected to be completed by early 2008.
The changes follow a council review of the meals-on wheels service which has been struggling to attract volunteers and provide the sort of choice and flexibility users increasingly expect.
Councillor Oliver Pearson, cabinet member responsible for Adult Social Care in Cumbria, said: "This improved service will offer real choice and flexibility - helping to make sure 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. 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.
5. A copy of the cabinet papers (item 17) can be found at if you follow the link below.
Follow this link to view a copy of the cabinet papers (item 17)