SOUTH MELBOURNE, 1952 – A determined young woman set out on the cold Winter streets of Melbourne riding a tricycle mounted with an insulated hot box carrying seventeen complete, three course meals to deliver to the elderly and those in need.
The unknown lady on the tricycle was representing the Committee of the South Melbourne Home Help Auxiliary and thus began the practice of the Meals on Wheels ethos in Australia.
The following year another determined and altruistic woman, Doris Taylor, a social activist, officially founded Meals on Wheels in Port Adelaide. Services very quickly spread throughout the state until Meals on Wheels had been adopted Australia wide.
Nowadays Meals on Wheels is truly is an icon of assistance in our country. According to their website one year over 14.8 million meals are delivered by more than 78,700 volunteers to about 53,000 recipients Australia wide in cities, regional and rural areas.
To be eligible for Meals on Wheels one must first be assessed by HACC (Home and Community Care) for their services. The HACC is designed to support people whose capacity for independent living is at risk, or who are at risk of premature or inappropriate admission long-term residential care. Eligibility does not depend or age or income.
Jim, 82 a resident of Bendigo his entire life (and a ratepayer almost as long) is a client of Meals on Wheels. He has used the service ever since he lost his beloved wife Marie 3 years ago.
When I pull up in my car out front of his neat brick home he is already waiting outside for me. I am not late. He is very pleased to see me. Jim is small with soft white hair and a friendly smile, his small frame is shadowed by the large home.
Later as he offers me a seat inside of his home Jims eyes light up as he speaks of his experiences with the service.
‘Honestly I have nothing but good things to say about Meals on Wheels. The food’s great and the fellas who deliver the food are wonderful blokes. They always check how I am and can tell if I’m not right. They’ll help you, you know? I’ve had a few health scares and I also get a bit depressed you see, have been a few years now. Since I lost my wife. She was the most wonderful woman and a great cook. The fellas know, they really are great.’
Jim leads me into kitchen to see the meals in his fridge for the week ahead.
‘Mondays to Thursday Meals on Wheels cover my every meal. Except breakfast. I can make my own cereal or toast!’
‘One of the fellas comes at 8am on a Monday with it all. I just heat it up’
In line with Meals on Wheels own philosophy it’s about a lot more than just delivering a meal. The organisation’s thousands of volunteers not only check in on the client but also stay for a quick chat, maybe even a laugh. The volunteer therefore observes the client’s state of being and in some cases the Meals on Wheels volunteer may be the only person whom the client is in contact with for the week. If a client does not answer the door to collect their delivery and no notice has been given as to why then the volunteer will enact policy and contact the person’s next of kin and medical assistance as required.
One can only wonder how many people have benefited from such early intervention. Another fine aspect of the service is its ability to empower the client to remain independent for longer.
Jim has served his community of Bendigo one way or another all of his life. A former Publican, he served as President of the local football club, a club which he was remained closely affiliated to for over 40 years. He still volunteers to read mass every Tuesday at a local Retirement village.
‘I really like talking to the blokes who come to the door. I don’t get out and about as much now although I do go to do the mass readings.’
Over 300 people in Bill’s hometown of Bendigo rely on the Meals on Wheels service each week. In a thriving rural centre with a population of over 105,000 this might not appear a lot but when you consider that those 300 residents received 40,000 meals last year you realise that for those who depend on the service and its delivery the service is invaluable. That’s 40,000 meals that are guaranteed. Over 2,500 people in total receive HACC services in the Bendigo region. (source ‘CoGB; Aged Care Today, Aged Care & Health Care Tomorrow…Where customer choice & market forces rule.’)
In September, 2014 the HACC Strategic Operations Project Report was commissioned by the Bendigo council to develop and provide to the HACC Working Group ‘CoGB; Aged Care Today, Aged Care & Health Care Tomorrow…Where customer choice & market forces rule.’
Statistics for service delivery show that 126,608 hours and 28,865 meals are handled by the Bendigo HACC service which employs over 165 paid staff and 70 volunteers. The total cost of delivering the service for the Council was $1,310,800.
When the CoGB (City of Greater Bendigo) announced soon after its intent to withdraw from their provision of HACC services many in the community were shocked.
After a strong reaction from residents the council announced on May 8 of this year that they would retain the HACC program with the intent of making it cost neutral, fully funded by the Commonwealth and State government and client fees with a full review due to be completed by the end of December, 2017. However, they also ordered another review into the Meals on Wheels service. The second in a year.
So just how did all this uncertainty regarding the service begin?
Major national policy and funding changes such as the NDIS-National Disability Scheme, the Caring for Older Australians reform and the increasing complexity of care required for an individual are all changing the face of HACC services across the country.
There are also now many privately run alternatives to the service as well Outreach Program such as the one that runs at Strath Haven Living Well Residential Care Facility. Clients are picked up by a bus and taken to the facility to enjoy a meal with residents before returning home.
Interestingly when contacted for this story the CoGB did not respond to my enquiries until I contacted Community Chef.
Commmunity Chef were awarded the contract for the Meals on Wheels service following the last review. They are based in Melbourne and an initiative of the various local governments it services, which are investors in the company. The costs for providing the Community Chef program are similar to that of Bendigo Health with the exception of some initial establishment fees. Community Chef Meal options are extremely varied.
When I attempted to contact the CoGB regarding the service I was unable to get a comment. When I thencalled up to volunteer for the service I was told that no new volunteers were required.
In correspondence Aleisha Verwoert North on behalf of Community Chef wrote-
‘It would not be possible for the City to answer the second question regarding Community Chef being the future of Meals on Wheels in Victoria. That could be a possible question for the Department of Health and Human Services (Council Home and Community Care services, HACC services, deliver Meals on Wheels. HACC is delivered by Councils on behalf of the Department).’
She then forwarded my enquiries to the CoGB council with Pauline Gordon, City of Greater Bendigo Community Wellbeing Director finally responding on behalf of Community Chef and not the council. How curious.
Jim accepts that the future looks bleak for the Meals on Wheels service locally.
‘If they get rid of Meals on Wheels then I guess I’ll just get meals from one of the other groups but it’s for those fellas who deliver the meals that I’ll be gutted most.’
So just exactly what are the costs to the council of providing Meals on Wheels to the community? The client cost is $7.60 and the government pay a subsidy of $3.24 to the council on top of that. At $8 a pop per ratepayer the Meals on Wheels service costs the Bendigo Council $250,000 per annum. The Bendigo Art Gallery will this year cost the council $2.3 million (The City of Greater Bendigo Annual Budget 2015-2016).
Former Mayor Peter Cox said to the Bendigo Advertiser on May 5 this year that the council review of Meals on Wheels which is due to be completed this month ‘is simply seeking a look at other alternatives to see where ‘efficiencies’ can be found and the possibility of a more affordable service from other providers.’
‘We want to talk to people and see what the alternatives are.’
The City’s acting community wellbeing director Marg Allan also told the paper
’Any options which might enhance the services to the community and contain costs’ would be considered.
‘It is too early to say (what alternatives might look like before a report but)… possible options may include a combination of utilising other providers, assistance with shopping and preparing meals in clients’ own homes and community lunch program.
Way back in 1965 when Doris Taylor received kudos from the WHO | World Health Organization for building up ‘the best, most complete and most effectively integrated system of preventive medicine for old folk operating anywhere in the world’ no one could foresee that the Meals on Wheels association of Australia would still be responsible for consistently providing invaluable assistance clients over fifty years later. The concept just worked.
Bendigo is a prosperous town with many blessings of good fortune. It is built on a spirit of hope and within its depths many layers of gold still remain. It is the sort of town that can afford to look after its more vulnerable residents.
THE review of Meals on Wheels by the COGB is fast approaching and the results will come in soon enough.
One can’t help but wonder what Doris Taylor and the lady on the tricycle would think of all this.