Meals and a Chat
Our 'Meals and a Chat' service offers more than traditional 'Meals on Wheels', with greater variety, choice and social contact. We've kept the price low at only £2 a meal since 2016.
We offer the meals as a stand-alone service or as part of a care package and use different providers to ensure more options. These providers can deliver a whole week's meals at once or come several times a week. It all depends on what you want.
If you receive home care, carers can visit to prepare the meal which has been delivered and stay for a chat.
We can also arrange regular phone chats and put you in touch with befriending services such as Age UK and Fulham Good Neighbours.
For further information, call us on 0800 145 6095 or email adultsocialcare@lbhf.gov.uk
Help from your supermarket or local store
Many of the big supermarkets will help you shop if you have difficulties, either by escorting you around the supermarket if you are using a wheelchair, or by collecting the products for you. Ask at your local store to find out more.
Some local food shops will deliver food to your home for a small charge, give them a ring and see what they say.
Online supermarket shopping
Most of the large supermarkets have a home shopping delivery service which you can access online. There is usually a delivery charge, unless you order over a minimum order value which can be up to £40.
Marks & Spencer - you can also shop for M&S food on the Ocado website
Ready meals
If you are able to use an oven or microwave, you could consider buying ready meals. Ready meals are pre-prepared meals that you can buy at your local supermarket or other supplier and simply need heating up in the cooker or microwave.
Ready meals are available for people with all dietary needs and cultural preferences. It's a good idea to read the list of ingredients to make sure you are maintaining a healthy, balanced diet, especially if you have an allergy or food intolerance.
See Age UK's healthy eating guide.
Meals delivered to your door
These companies can deliver batches of prepared ready meals to your door. Some are frozen and some do not require freezing.
Wiltshire Farm Foods can deliver batches of frozen meals to your home on a regular basis, and provide a wide variety of options for people with different tastes or dietary needs.
COOK can deliver batches of frozen meals to your home and also have stores in London.
Oakhouse Foods can deliver batches of frozen meals to your home and have a range of foods for specialist requirements
Parsley Box have developed a range of specially packed food which can be stored in a cupboard, without a need for a fridge or freezer, that can be heated in a few minutes in a microwave.
If you have an allergy or food intolerance or require a special diet, please make sure you check the ingredients of the meals before ordering from these companies.
Problems getting to the shops?
If you are having trouble getting out and about there are ways to ensure that you get the food and other shopping which you need.
Getting someone else to help
Don't be shy of asking trusted friends or neighbours to collect shopping for you. Many will be very happy to help and will be pleased to be asked.
Or you can arrange for someone to go with you to the shops, or to do your shopping for you. See Support in your home page for information on who may be able to help.
Community shopping and other transport services
H&F Age UK provide an escorted door-to-door shopping service for people over 50 who could not otherwise do their own shopping.
Find out more about the H&F Age UK Shopping Service.
And you may be able to use services such as Dial-A-Ride or the Taxicard scheme to get to or from the shops.
Age UK lunch club
Get a healthy lunch and meet people at the Age UK centre in Greyhound Road.
The Age UK lunch club takes place Tuesday to Friday from 1 pm. Lunches are excellent value with 2 courses for just £2.
Meals include classics like roast chicken, fish pie or sausages and mash. For dessert, you can tuck into a treacle tart, banoffee pie or a refreshing fruit salad.
Find out more about the Age UK lunch club.
Equipment in your kitchen
There is a wide range of equipment available to help with everyday tasks and allow you to be more independent in the kitchen.
You may find that these can make all the difference in allowing you to prepare food for yourself rather than relying on others to do it for you.
See equipment to help at home.
Assessing your needs
If these options don't work for you, contact us for an assessment to discuss how we can help.