Home delivered frozen meals service

How do I apply for frozen meals? 

You will normally meet the 'criteria' for this service if you have difficulty getting a hot meal ready for yourself. It may be that you are elderly combined with frailty; cannot get out to buy or cannot carry shopping; cannot stand at a cooker for any length of time or have no cooking knowledge and you live alone.

If you think the frozen meals service would help you, you should phone Social Care Direct 0131 200 2324.  Social Care Direct is a council service and is now the first point of call for people interested in social care services.             

After this, a social worker, home care organiser or manager, or an occupational therapist, either in the community or at a hospital will carry out an assessment on your needs.

What happens if it is decided that I need frozen meals?

If it has been decided that you need the frozen meals service, the referral is sent in to the Catering Section. Arrangements are then made to visit you at home, with a family member or someone else if appropriate, to start the service.

What sort of frozen meal will I get?

The delivered meal is a two-course meal (main course and sweet), and is specifically made to provide all the necessary nutrients for older people living in the community.  You can choose your meals from a range of approximately 60 main courses and sweets. The range of meals available is reviewed annually.

How much will it cost? 

This is not a 'means tested' service, therefore you will have to pay for your meals. The cost is £2.50 per meal with effect from 7 April 2008. Payment is normally made at the point of delivery.

When are the meals delivered, where do I keep them and how do I heat them?

The meals are delivered to you fortnightly. The company supplying this service ensures that the meals are stored in your freezer. If you have no freezer capacity, or facility to re-heat the meals, alternative arrangements can be made in certain circumstances.

You decide what you want to eat and when you want to eat. The meals are best re-heated in a microwave oven, from frozen (no need to defrost first).

Can I get my meals from somewhere other than the Council? 

You can make your own arrangements with a private company for frozen meals if you prefer to or if you do not want Social Work involvement, or don’t meet the criteria for the council's subsidised service, or want to choose from a wider range of meals.  You will have to discuss the cost and details of this with the private company.  

What happened to meals on wheels? 

The ‘Home delivered frozen meals’ service replaced the ‘Meals on Wheels’ service.