Meals on Wheels Week is a national event hosted by the National Association of Care Catering (NACC). The week will provide HC-One care homes with the opportunity to increase awareness of loneliness, social isolation and the wellbeing of older and vulnerable people living in the community.
The week-long event aims to bring together health and social care sectors, caterers, service providers, food suppliers, volunteers, carers, older people, policy makers and the public to raise awareness about the importance of meals delivered in the community.
Neel Radia, Meals on Wheels lead for the NACC, commented: “Loneliness and social isolation are prevalent amongst older people in our communities and having services like lunch clubs and day centres, gives access to older people to come together and meet others whilst enjoying something to eat and drink.
“With the underfunding in social care and community lunch clubs under threat of closure, it is heartwarming to see organisations like HC-One care homes opening their doors to alleviate some of those pressures for older people living in their communities and inviting them to join their own care home residents for food, drink, and company.”
HC-One have set care homes the challenge of creating an ‘extravagant’ afternoon tea for their local community as part of ‘Friday Friends’ Day. The top three winning care homes who put on the best afternoon tea spread will win a hamper.
Mark Meacham, HC-One’s head of catering and housekeeping support services, added: “The week provides a great opportunity to reinforce the great connection between our residents and homes, and their local community. We look forward to continuing our work with the NACC to ensure individuals are educated and provided with good nutrition and hydration within our home and their local communities.”