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77
Meals- on- Wheels Service
Progress has been made during the year with this service,
notwithstanding the considerable difficulties that had to be
surmounted, such as the lack of a meals-on-wheels organiser for
many months and the lack of volunteers in the Surbiton area for
delivery of the meals.
A small van was provided for the assistance of the volunteers
in the Surbiton area and on some days a driver was supplied as well.
The meals which are prepared and cooked in the Council's
kitchen are delivered in the Kingston area five days of the week by
the Kingston Women's Royal Voluntary Service, whilst the British Red
Cross carried out this function for Surbiton, each voluntary
organisation delivering an average monthly of 1,590 and 1,34-2 meals
respectively. The Maiden and Coombe Old People's Welfare Association,
with the assistance of the Maiden "omen's Royal Voluntary Service, has
again been responsible for the provision and delivery of meals in the
Maiden and Coombe area from their own day centre kitchen, but were
also supplied from the Council's kitchen with approximately 128 meals
each month.
A new meals-on-wheels organiser was appointed towards the
end of the year and this lady, who is experienced and qualified, has
improved the quality and variety of the menu and there is a different
meal every day for each period of four weeks. Dietetic requirements
are given special consideration.
The regular supply of good meals to elderly people can have
the overall effect of reducing the need for other domiciliary services,
such as home helps where a helper sometimes only attends at the home of
an elderly person in order to cook a meal.
At Christmas 1968, 207 full Christmas dinners, consisting of
turkey, sausage, savoury stuffing, roast potatoes and brussels sprouts,
and Christmas pudding were delivered.
During 1968, a total of 36,722 meals were delivered, compared
with 34,087 during 1967.