Meals services

Meals services

You can have meals delivered to you at home if you find it hard to shop for food or prepare meals for yourself. The service is sometimes called 'meals on wheels'.

What kind of meals are they?

The meals will be either be hot or frozen. If frozen, you – or a carer or friend – can re-heat them to suit your own meal times.

You can usually select from a choice of meals, and special diets can be catered for.

Getting a meals service

Your local council’s social care department can provide or arrange a meal service for you.

You don’t always need an assessment of your care needs to access meals services, but your council may offer you this assessment. This may include a financial assessment.

Meals can be provided on a short or long-term basis.

Contact your local council’s social care department to arrange a meals service.

Find out what meal services are available in your area using the Meals on Wheels UK service finder.

Cost of a meals service

For meals provided by your council, there is usually a small charge per meal. The cost of any services provided by your local council will be set out in their charging policy. Ask your council’s social care department for a copy of this.