April 2005

Variety the spice for meals on wheels

A major review of Meals on Wheels has found that recipients want more variety in meals.

Minister for Aged Care Gavin Jennings said the Government would accept the findings from a Review of Home and Community Care (HACC) Program Food Services which aimed to identify those in need of HACC food services, update the food serving guidelines and give greater recognition to the diverse needs of individual clients.

‘The Government recognises the importance of maintaining a high standard of HACC food services catering for our diverse communities,’ Mr Jennings said.

‘The days of one-standard-big-hot-meal for lunch are gone.

‘Meals play an important social as well as nutritional role in people’s lives.

‘We want food services to respond effectively to people’s social as well as nutritional needs.’

The Municipal Association of Victoria has joined government in accepting findings from the HACC food services review.

‘The Government will work with local government and HACC providers to ensure the review’s recommendations are implemented,’ Mr Jennings said.

‘Both state and local governments have accepted these and other recommendations and will work to make the HACC food services program even better.

‘We want more variety and spice in the HACC food services program.’

The Victorian Government manages the HACC program which delivers around four million meals a year to around 30,000 clients with meals prepared and mainly delivered by local councils.

Mr Jennings said implementing the review’s recommendations would ensure that HACC clients receive food services that are:

• Nutritionally sound;

• Better-tailored to users individual nutritional and social needs;

• Provided in a planned, coordinated and integrated manner;

• Contribute to the HACC program goal of allowing clients to remain living independently at home for as long as possible.

• The review’s final report and the State response will be available soon on the Government's health information website http://www.health.vic.gov.au/hacc/.