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Elderly parents
Original poster

Ready meal advice

86 replies

Lippy1234 · 29/01/2020 19:17

Hi, I’m new on here. My DM is 68 and has advanced Alzheimer’s, we’ve been agreed a care package for her. A call in the morning to help with medication, make her breakfast and make a sandwich for lunch. She’ll also receive an early evening call when the carer will heat up a ready meal. The plan is I’m going to do an up line shop for her once a week and be at her house when it arrived to put it all away. So my question is has anyone got any recommendation for supermarkets that do nice ready meals. My Mum likes healthy food, I don’t think she like meals such as cottage pie. I’m also trying to find meals that are not high in salt as she has high blood pressure.
The last year or so have been very difficult so I’m hoping the care package will help at least for a few months before we start looking at alternative accommodation for her.

OP posts:
converseandjeans · 29/01/2020 22:32

I would say Waitrose or M&S ready meals are nicest.

BaronessBomburst · 29/01/2020 22:34

We buy children's ready meals for DGM. Small portions, low in salt, not too spicy. If she's feeling hungry she'll do some fresh veg (or open a tin of veg) to go with it.

CMOTDibbler · 29/01/2020 22:34

The good thing with the Wiltshire FF ones is they are a complete meal with veg which most ready meals aren't. Also, as they are frozen, they give you a bit of a buffer. The puddings are good (according to my dad who thought the actual meals were bland but he is a salt fiend).
Dementia can change peoples taste in food, so be prepared to go with the flow as to what your mum wants with time. My mum was a total lentil weaving hippy, but now will only eat hash browns, cod goujons and other beige food as its easy for her to manage and see on the plate (at least this is my theory, she's pretty non verbal).

Cuddling57 · 29/01/2020 22:34

If your shopping online I can recommend Tesco. Barely any problems over two years. Weekly delivery. You can buy an annual pass too if you want to.
Absolutely no way would I use Asda again. Lots of problems each week. I've heard Ocado are good though not used them.

Redshoeblueshoe · 29/01/2020 22:40

My mum had the Wiltshire farm ones, handy because they cater for all sorts of diets, and she enjoyed them.

Knotaknitter · 29/01/2020 22:51

I've been looking through the Wiltshire Farm food catalogue today with my MIL. They will put it into the freezer for her and that means they will be the back up for her. The catalogue has a photo of the meals (all nicely plated, I doubt they'd look as nice if I'd scooped them out) as well as the calorie breakdown.

It would be good it you could get some feedback as to what she likes/will/can eat. It's no good buying the meal if they won't actually eat it.

ohmyword20 · 30/01/2020 05:48

Oakhouse are great. Loads of selection, many of which are microwavable, all kinds of cuisines, taste good, good quality and all frozen so you can just get a load of them and forget about it. They also do pudding and half size portions if appetite isn't what it was. They have dedicated delivery slots for each area and if you won't be in they'll leave it in a preferred place in a cool box for you. Excellent customer service on the phone too.

I'd highly recommend them.

msmith501 · 30/01/2020 06:37

I watched my dad rapidly lose weight on Wiltshire farm foods - simply not enough for a decent balance diet on my opinion. I ended up doing meal planning and cooking myself as part of our normal routine - easier to manage the nutritional / salt content etc and no need to be in awaiting a delivery.

Original poster
Lippy1234 · 30/01/2020 07:12

Thanks everyone, I think I’ll try the healthier looking meals from Wiltshire as they can go in the freezer. I’m also going to get an Ocado delivery each week for my DM’s breakfast ,lunch bits and fridge ready meals. That way she’ll get quite a lot of variety. I’m also going to employ a cleaner/housekeeper for a couple of times a week, then it buys a bit of time while my DB and I find a suitable care home/assisted living place.

OP posts:
Original poster
Lippy1234 · 30/01/2020 07:13

I’ll also check out Oakhouse.
Thanks again.

OP posts:
Orangeblossom78 · 30/01/2020 08:48

They can use a key safe to come in and put food away for you, I have seen this place recommended on here which is not freezer meals, but vacuum packed. Like stews / made in pressure cooker. They are based in Edinburgh. Parsley Box www.parsleybox.com/?gclid=Cj0KCQiAmsrxBRDaARIsANyiD1r6uJzLfPukH15X5gu1f8SvNKeTYqBoD4042rg8VKLniTtSlIKXAQoaApuNEALw_wcB

Selfsettling3 · 30/01/2020 08:56

You can ask the housekeeper to put away the shopping for you to save you being tied to something else.

Cyborgfeminist · 30/01/2020 09:06

My GPs had Wiltshire Farm Foods, which they both enjoyed

ThisIsNotADrillLangCleg · 30/01/2020 09:18

Check out local small businesses in your mums area. We have a few that do healthy meals prepped fresh using local suppliers/produce and delivered each week. They're a bit pricey but v naice. You can ask for specific diets like low salt/higher protein etc and mix in a few that are suitable for freezing.

Original poster
Lippy1234 · 30/01/2020 09:44

So much help, thank you.

OP posts:
OneHanded · 30/01/2020 09:58

Asda are some of the worst for salt fat and sugar. I’d recommend ocado anyday. Sainsburys delivery is very good, but can’t comment nutritionally.

StopGo · 30/01/2020 10:00

@Lippy1234 in my DM's area the local authority do a hot meals on wheels service. Food is provided by Appetito which is part of the Wiltshire Farm Foods organisation. A two course meal is delivered at lunch time and they can leave a sandwich tea if required. The delivery person will plate the meal up and get a drink ready. They also provide a welfare check and will raise the alarm if anything is the matter. Maybe it is available in your mum's area?

CMOTDibbler · 30/01/2020 10:12

If you can find a good independant cleaner, they might be happy to cook some fresh food while they are there with your mum. My cleaner does that for one of her clients who has mild dementia and can't cook by themselves but enjoys having sausages and a jacket potato (for instance) when she's there - she pops it in the oven with them, does her cleaning (and does a washing load, makes the bed, clears the fridge out) and then serves it up for them. Also things that just need longer in the oven than a carer can heat up in their limited visit time - lasagna for instance.

Original poster
Lippy1234 · 30/01/2020 13:15

Thanks once again. The social worker did tell me about Appetito but unfortunately it wouldn’t be funded with my Mum’s care package. I’m off to invest all your suggestions and tips (after I’ve had some lunch myself, it’s very easy to neglect your own needs when so involved with caring for others).

OP posts:
Orangeblossom78 · 30/01/2020 14:05

Hopefully once you get it up and running it will all be easier. Kind thoughts

Original poster
Lippy1234 · 30/01/2020 14:11

Thank you. I just heard the first call went well this morning and they are going back later to make an omelette as we haven’t sorted out the microwave (DM blew the last one up) and ready meals yet.

OP posts:
CMOTDibbler · 30/01/2020 14:41

On microwaves, the cheapest ones from Amazon like this have survived much better as the knobs are easier to use. I taped off the times above 5 min, and restricted it to one power setting

StopGo · 30/01/2020 15:58

We have to pay for Appetito, think it's £4.50 a day. I think paying for food is fair enough.

Orangeblossom78 · 30/01/2020 16:05

Apparently Appetito/Meals on Wheels use Wiltshire Farm foods, it's all the same.

Orangeblossom78 · 30/01/2020 16:06

On M&S there is a plan for Ocado to stock their food sometime this year I think, as well.