“Every day a friendly smile, a chat about the weather, a nutritious meal and knowing someone will drop by to say hello, changes the lives of many Australians.” Meals on Wheels website After 32 years of delivering meals on wheels around Wonthaggi, Vilya Congreave reflects that the service was about much more than a meal.
WE ARE constantly told that our ageing population will live longer and will want to maintain their independence by living at home rather than going into care and becoming a drain on the country’s finances.
I had assumed, therefore, that my role as a meals on wheels volunteer would continue well into the future. For 32 years l have organised my timetable around this commitment. My former employer, the Department of Human Services, always honoured this request when roster reviews came up.
So I was quite shocked to be told recently that I had only one more delivery to make and that the service as we know it will cease on March 1. Instead of a daily delivery of a hot meal by volunteers, a co-ordinator will now make weekly deliveries of frozen meals.
We are told this will give our clients a much greater choice of menus. But Meals on Wheels is about so much more than just “delivering a meal”. On that daily visit, volunteers discreetly check for uneaten meals or signs of ill health that could be referred to the co-ordinator for further support.
A daily delivery ensures the recipient receives some social interaction. What could be more beneficial? For some people, that daily delivery might be their only social contact all day.
Over my long involvement, I gained insight into loneliness that no words can describe. I also met some amazing characters. It was a slow and challenging process at times to win their trust and to start sharing life experiences. I know it’s been said many times, but I will reiterate: what a wealth of knowledge, wisdom, humour and wit sits behind many a closed door.
“Every day a friendly smile, a chat about the weather, a nutritious meal and knowing someone will drop by to say hello, changes the lives of many Australians.”
Meals on Wheels website
Photo: Meals on Wheels
I remember wonderful stories of the old miners, their designated jobs and the hardships of mining and life in general. The overall tender and loving memories of the faithful pit ponies. If they found out I lived close to Tank Hill, the eyes would light up and there was talk of rabbitting to survive and water being delivered by furphy to the townsfolk from a natural spring at Tank Hill. If anyone knows exactly where this spring is, I would love to know! Sadly, over the years, any old miners on my run either died or went into full-time care.
One couple would religiously not fill in the Age's nine-letter word before I had a go. They would eagerly await my arrival. If I got it wrong, I would taunt them with "but can you guess by the smell what meal you are about to receive?" back in the days of not needing to label a description. It was all good fun.
Another couple lived in a unit called "The Love Shack". It was so beautiful to see such love and affection being maintained for a very long time. I always felt uplifted leaving that place. The small garden was filled with roses to be smelt and admired, each one with a special story behind it.
When I think about roses, many a story was brought about by commenting on a certain bloom in various gardens. Quite a few elderly gentlemen, now on their own, had touching stories to relate due to a certain rose. Not only the people but also their gardens were part of the enjoyment for me.
You would always try to get a conversation going but not everyone wanted to talk. Some weren’t keen on you entering their homes. At other times, you didn't encroach when other services were being given, home help or home carers visiting. In the early days, delivering meals on a Monday could entail having to call the ambulance occasionally if a death had occurred over the weekend. Fortunately I was trained to deal with this sort of situation and it hasn't happened for many a year.
I chose to do many Christmas days, although later on there were no deliveries for any public holiday. Martin, my husband, would come with me because it was definitely one of the hardest days to do and you wouldn't have your normal run, so many were unknown to you. Our young daughter Claire often came with us. Part of that was for her to realise that not all houses were filled with family and cheer.
We have many more sophisticated ways of communicating or raising support and I dearly hope that we as a community look out for the elderly living close by and are aware of their wellbeing.
With time my sadness about the end of this important part of my life will lift and I will enjoy the many wonderful memories. Many others will be feeling this loss and I salute you all as an integral part of a growing community.
Fortunately, for me and others, many other organisations are calling out to willing volunteers; alas, it won’t be the Wonthaggi visitor information centre.
Changes about 'more choice'
Bass Coast Regional Health says it changed its meals on wheels service for elderly people and those with disabilities to give them greater menu choice.
The changes were first introduced on Phillip Island last year, followed by Inverloch and Wonthaggi from next week. Rather than everyone having the same thing every day, they can now select from an extensive menu, including soups, main dishes and desserts, said Pat Grasby, executive assistant to the CEO.
The meals will still be prepared in the Wonthaggi Hospital kitchens, then frozen for a weekly delivery by staff. “Volunteers are no longer required because they’re only delivering once a week,” Ms Grasby said.
She was unable to say whether Bass Coast Health had considered the social benefits of a daily visit by a volunteer.
COMMENTS
February 28, 2016
Yes Vilya, what a sad state of affairs.Of course the food is only a part of the volunteers duty, a smile and a few words are very much appreciated by the people visited each day.
Margaret and Daryl Hook, Pound Creek
My parents retired to Nowra (the Wonthaggi of Shoalhaven in NSW). Dad was pretty "able" but Mum became a client of the local meals on wheels Service. Daily visits provided three priceless additions to their lives: brief respite for him, routine meal times and monitoring of the situation as Vilya describes in that beautiful article.
I don't want to argue against a hospital doing its best in this age of economic rationalism but that service went from fresh daily to frozen weekly when catering [to the hospitals and departmental nursing homes] was "regionalised" by grouping all the meal preparation (it had been known as "cooking" up to this point) in one central kitchen. The quality for hospital patients deteriorated as hot meals were transported in small trucks for up to 100 km after plating up.
My mother lost interest in the meals on wheels service as she had to thaw the things before removing them from the aluminium trays and microwaving them; trays of frozen meals filled their small freezer (which pensioner has a big freezer?) and her meal times lost routine.
That was 20 years ago. The more things change, the more they stay the same?
Geoff Ellis, Wattle Bank
Many thanks to Vilya Congreave for her article which reports a short-sighted decision by one or a small group that affects many by taking away a daily lifeline for those receiving meals on wheels. She points out the untold extra mile that meals on wheels volunteers go. In other words, what they do is an important social service far beyond just delivering meals. Who makes decisions like the one to change the service from five times a week to once a week? (Similarly the closure of Wonthaggi Info Centre) Why doesn’t this person or persons consult with the people at the coalface instead of making questionable decisions with possibly disastrous consequences? And at short notice. Please, whoever made the decision, belatedly consult with people like Vilya Congreave and their clients. Even better, join a volunteer on a delivery and see how appreciated they and their service are.
Meryl Tobin, The Gurdies
I read with great interest Vilya's account of her 32 years with meals on wheels. What a wonderful commitment. My mother in England had a similar commitment and was saddened when the service in Cornwall was outsourced to a private company and she was no longer needed. Knowing Vilya, and knowing my mother, the recipients of the meals will have missed out greatly by not having those visits.
It makes it even more important that we all try to keep our eyes and ears and hearts open to the rewards of a relationship with people with so much to share.
Hilary Stuchbery
I had assumed, therefore, that my role as a meals on wheels volunteer would continue well into the future. For 32 years l have organised my timetable around this commitment. My former employer, the Department of Human Services, always honoured this request when roster reviews came up.
So I was quite shocked to be told recently that I had only one more delivery to make and that the service as we know it will cease on March 1. Instead of a daily delivery of a hot meal by volunteers, a co-ordinator will now make weekly deliveries of frozen meals.
We are told this will give our clients a much greater choice of menus. But Meals on Wheels is about so much more than just “delivering a meal”. On that daily visit, volunteers discreetly check for uneaten meals or signs of ill health that could be referred to the co-ordinator for further support.
A daily delivery ensures the recipient receives some social interaction. What could be more beneficial? For some people, that daily delivery might be their only social contact all day.
Over my long involvement, I gained insight into loneliness that no words can describe. I also met some amazing characters. It was a slow and challenging process at times to win their trust and to start sharing life experiences. I know it’s been said many times, but I will reiterate: what a wealth of knowledge, wisdom, humour and wit sits behind many a closed door.
“Every day a friendly smile, a chat about the weather, a nutritious meal and knowing someone will drop by to say hello, changes the lives of many Australians.”
Meals on Wheels website
Photo: Meals on Wheels
I remember wonderful stories of the old miners, their designated jobs and the hardships of mining and life in general. The overall tender and loving memories of the faithful pit ponies. If they found out I lived close to Tank Hill, the eyes would light up and there was talk of rabbitting to survive and water being delivered by furphy to the townsfolk from a natural spring at Tank Hill. If anyone knows exactly where this spring is, I would love to know! Sadly, over the years, any old miners on my run either died or went into full-time care.
One couple would religiously not fill in the Age's nine-letter word before I had a go. They would eagerly await my arrival. If I got it wrong, I would taunt them with "but can you guess by the smell what meal you are about to receive?" back in the days of not needing to label a description. It was all good fun.
Another couple lived in a unit called "The Love Shack". It was so beautiful to see such love and affection being maintained for a very long time. I always felt uplifted leaving that place. The small garden was filled with roses to be smelt and admired, each one with a special story behind it.
When I think about roses, many a story was brought about by commenting on a certain bloom in various gardens. Quite a few elderly gentlemen, now on their own, had touching stories to relate due to a certain rose. Not only the people but also their gardens were part of the enjoyment for me.
You would always try to get a conversation going but not everyone wanted to talk. Some weren’t keen on you entering their homes. At other times, you didn't encroach when other services were being given, home help or home carers visiting. In the early days, delivering meals on a Monday could entail having to call the ambulance occasionally if a death had occurred over the weekend. Fortunately I was trained to deal with this sort of situation and it hasn't happened for many a year.
I chose to do many Christmas days, although later on there were no deliveries for any public holiday. Martin, my husband, would come with me because it was definitely one of the hardest days to do and you wouldn't have your normal run, so many were unknown to you. Our young daughter Claire often came with us. Part of that was for her to realise that not all houses were filled with family and cheer.
We have many more sophisticated ways of communicating or raising support and I dearly hope that we as a community look out for the elderly living close by and are aware of their wellbeing.
With time my sadness about the end of this important part of my life will lift and I will enjoy the many wonderful memories. Many others will be feeling this loss and I salute you all as an integral part of a growing community.
Fortunately, for me and others, many other organisations are calling out to willing volunteers; alas, it won’t be the Wonthaggi visitor information centre.
Changes about 'more choice'
Bass Coast Regional Health says it changed its meals on wheels service for elderly people and those with disabilities to give them greater menu choice.
The changes were first introduced on Phillip Island last year, followed by Inverloch and Wonthaggi from next week. Rather than everyone having the same thing every day, they can now select from an extensive menu, including soups, main dishes and desserts, said Pat Grasby, executive assistant to the CEO.
The meals will still be prepared in the Wonthaggi Hospital kitchens, then frozen for a weekly delivery by staff. “Volunteers are no longer required because they’re only delivering once a week,” Ms Grasby said.
She was unable to say whether Bass Coast Health had considered the social benefits of a daily visit by a volunteer.
COMMENTS
February 28, 2016
Yes Vilya, what a sad state of affairs.Of course the food is only a part of the volunteers duty, a smile and a few words are very much appreciated by the people visited each day.
Margaret and Daryl Hook, Pound Creek
My parents retired to Nowra (the Wonthaggi of Shoalhaven in NSW). Dad was pretty "able" but Mum became a client of the local meals on wheels Service. Daily visits provided three priceless additions to their lives: brief respite for him, routine meal times and monitoring of the situation as Vilya describes in that beautiful article.
I don't want to argue against a hospital doing its best in this age of economic rationalism but that service went from fresh daily to frozen weekly when catering [to the hospitals and departmental nursing homes] was "regionalised" by grouping all the meal preparation (it had been known as "cooking" up to this point) in one central kitchen. The quality for hospital patients deteriorated as hot meals were transported in small trucks for up to 100 km after plating up.
My mother lost interest in the meals on wheels service as she had to thaw the things before removing them from the aluminium trays and microwaving them; trays of frozen meals filled their small freezer (which pensioner has a big freezer?) and her meal times lost routine.
That was 20 years ago. The more things change, the more they stay the same?
Geoff Ellis, Wattle Bank
Many thanks to Vilya Congreave for her article which reports a short-sighted decision by one or a small group that affects many by taking away a daily lifeline for those receiving meals on wheels. She points out the untold extra mile that meals on wheels volunteers go. In other words, what they do is an important social service far beyond just delivering meals. Who makes decisions like the one to change the service from five times a week to once a week? (Similarly the closure of Wonthaggi Info Centre) Why doesn’t this person or persons consult with the people at the coalface instead of making questionable decisions with possibly disastrous consequences? And at short notice. Please, whoever made the decision, belatedly consult with people like Vilya Congreave and their clients. Even better, join a volunteer on a delivery and see how appreciated they and their service are.
Meryl Tobin, The Gurdies
I read with great interest Vilya's account of her 32 years with meals on wheels. What a wonderful commitment. My mother in England had a similar commitment and was saddened when the service in Cornwall was outsourced to a private company and she was no longer needed. Knowing Vilya, and knowing my mother, the recipients of the meals will have missed out greatly by not having those visits.
It makes it even more important that we all try to keep our eyes and ears and hearts open to the rewards of a relationship with people with so much to share.
Hilary Stuchbery