Meals for elderly

[wednamenov]

I'm visiting an elderly relative and I want to stock her freezer with easy to defrost single portion items. All from Lidl.

We don't think she eats on her own. She's very unsteady so cooking is difficult. She does get meals on wheels but we think she tries to make them go further than they should. So emphasis is on easy single portions.

So far I'm making batches of soup but I'm only here for two days so I need to think about getting ready made stuff in. There's a Lidl near by which is easiest for me to get to.

She says their ready meals are too big for her.

I've bought chicken and mushroom slices, and pepper steak slices (I plan to freeze these in individual freezer bags). I've got a bag of madeleines and pain au chocolate (can these be frozen in the individually sealed bags they already come in)?Just for occasional treats.

Any other suggestions very welcome.

Lidl have some frozen ready meals, tge portions aren't big. It's worth checking where she lives to see if there's a weekly lunch project, some pick up too - I have a couple of people coming to mine with children overseas, I have contact numbers for the children so we can get in touch if we notice a change in them, it's happened in the past, we've told the family and they have put in extra measures, we've also contacted adult social services where there's no known family

Please don’t suggest to the OP that this aunt moves to Scotland. Ireland has a good later life funding scheme called “Fair Deal” where a proportion of your estate pays for nursing care for a max of 3 years. Compare this to the UK where all your assets go towards nursing care meaning moving to cheaper providers until you run out and the state (may) take over. Worlds apart..
OP - it sounds like she’s in the system and going through the assessment process for additional support hours. The papers today are full of stories about not being able to get providers to do the hours being granted so it’s very tough. I hate to say it but you need to ham it up. They come out and look at this frail lady making breakfast and then say “fine!”. You or the sons need to stress she’s on her own and push hard for more hours.

Also does someone have POA? It’s v complex in Ireland but needs to be set up while they’re sharp and definitely before nursing home care starts.

I think a perching stool is a good idea.

It might also be worth considering a "no pour" kettle, or setting up a tea station where she can sit down — my DGMs carer would fill a small flask for her and put some milk in a jug, and put a clean mug with it and she had a box of tea bags and sachets of coffee and some biscuits and some tea spoons there so she could do herself hot drinks when she couldn't walk safely or lift a full kettle.

She's mentioned the Fair Deal thing to me, so it sounds like her sons are on that already. Good to know it's good.

Surely the simplest solution is to get meals on wheels delivered every day ?

Or a takeaway / deliveroo meal delivered on the days that there are no meals on wheels available

Have you looked into her local community ?Some churches & community centres offer a hot meal & a volunteer could take her there & back
Plus social interaction too

I've also seen some people on local Facebook market place who offer home made ready meals & delivery too

These were designed to help keep people of all ages hydrated, they look like sweets. You could get them delivered

https://www.jellydrops.com/

We bought one of these for someone elderly who did not get along with their microwave
Mini counter top oven
Under £100
So no issues with bending down
https://shop.beko.co.uk/PagesPublic/ProductBrowse/product.aspx?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwkNOpBhBEEiwAb3MvvS_iFxbcBC59p_6TycSQLZ2_h8SDvna1ifPq44MTh1NcTVldBbPE3xoCE9gQAvD_BwE&group1=1009-Mini%20Ovens&group2=&group3=&group4=&product=8770353200&soalready=1Pr3Sz6+yPhCTxWFypjPfFNmJLeUx/R0DrAuyfr2+NE=

Rather than freezing cakes & defrosting

You can get cake delivered through the letter box
Some companies offer a subscription, once a week, once a month
A local bakery may be cheaper ?
Something like
https://www.yumbles.com/simply-cake-co./favourites-mix-brownie-and-cake-selection-gluten-free.html?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwkNOpBhBEEiwAb3Mvvco17a86L6ZCZYDkLjg8UeAktQrunCjKv1x2K2AhizvCY8F7O1wb0xoCjr0QAvD_BwE

I'd ask her if she wants to come back with me at least for a visit.

You can buy single portions of long life rice pudding & custard which come in easy to open pots
Look like this
https://www.ocado.com/products/ambrosia-my-mini-rice-243505011?ds_rl=1290929&ds_rl=1291426&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwkNOpBhBEEiwAb3MvvedX86nbswmK_Wi23XKwcAQxxRgPoufc1gg3Wk6fUGzSqweQZ83XyhoC22YQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Is there another meals on wheel system, through church or charity or perhaps she needs daily carers. Sounds like she needs a ss assessment.

Gourmet fuel is a food delivery service (Dublin based) in Ireland, they do breakfasts, lunches, snacks and dinners with different calorie counts. Some of the meals would probably be too spicy but not all are. Some of the lunches could work. They only need to go. Eattco is another one but their food comes frozen

Lidl sell frozen croissants

Suggest looking at food in the freezer section