About Meals at Home

Our Meals at Home Service delivers frozen ready-meals to your home.  You can choose two courses for each day from a range of menus. You order your meals in advance and we deliver them to your home every two weeks or monthly, depending on what suits you. You store the meals in your freezer until you want them.

We assess your needs to work out how long you will need the service.  You may need it for a short while only, or you may need it for longer.

To heat your meals, you can use a microwave or a standard oven, or the supplier will lend a Meal Heater, free of charge.  If you do not have enough freezer space to store the meals, a small freezer will be supplied at no extra charge.

You can buy additional meals directly from the supplier, and you can also order meals from a Luxury Range from them too, but you will have to pay the difference in price.

The person who assesses your need for the service will also give you full information and demonstrate the equipment, if necessary. The meals supplier will be able to give any other advice you need.

What you should know

• You, or the person who prepares your meals, must be able to follow the instructions for cooking the meals.
• To stay in the scheme, you or the person who prepares your meals must be able to give your order for meals at least one week in advance of when you want them.  You can either do this with the driver who delivers your meals, or by phoning the supplier.
• If you need help with cooking the meals or eating them, the Domiciliary Care Service might be able to help.
• The Domiciliary Care Service may be an option if you have a medical/physical condition that is getting better, but you need support to maintain or develop skills and confidence.

When will the Council consider arranging the Meals at Home service for you?

To get this service:

• you must be living alone, or with someone else who would also qualify for Meals at Home, and
• you must be unable to prepare and cook a meal because of physical or mental illness or disability, or
• you must be unable to shop, or
• you must be unlikely to increase your ability (long-term service only), or
• providing meals at home will result in some respite for your carer.

What sort or service will you get?

Different people have different needs.  Your assessor will work out how many days each week you will receive the service.

Charges

The Council sets the charges for meals and covers the cost of any equipment provided and the cost of delivering your meals. You pay the supplier for the meal yourself at the times you agree with them.

For more information, contact us at:

communitycare@eastlothian.gov.uk