Council reaches meals-on-wheels landmark

One million meals have been delivered to elderly and disabled people in their own homes by Merton Council’s meals-on-wheels partner, Sodexo, since the company started operating the service in 2001.

Siobhain McDonagh, MP for Mitcham and Morden, delivered the millionth meal of the contract to 102 year old Mrs Olive Keepin at her home in Colliers Wood on Thursday 31st July.

Sodexo, the world’s leading services company, offers meals-on- wheels through its Home Service business, which operates in 10 London boroughs as well as countywide in Essex.

Home Service offers clients a daily meal delivery service with a choice of more than 60 different nutritionally-balanced meals, which can be tailored to meet specific requirements.

In addition we also provide a wide range of ethnic, religious and medical meals.

The service is about more than just food. The Sodexo delivery staff visit the same clients every day, building up rapport and often being the first person to raise the alarm if a client is unwell or experiencing problems.

A recent survey showed 91% of clients rated the meals and service as either excellent or good. Siobhain McDonagh, MP for Mitcham and Morden, “It was lovely to meet Olive and find out about the service she gets. She’s a phenomenal woman and I’m very happy to have had this opportunity to celebrate today’s milestone.”

Jarek Plewa Director of Sodexo Home Service said; “We have built an excellent partnership with Merton over the last 13 years and are proud to have such high satisfaction rates with the clients we serve.

For some of them, it may be the only regular social contact they have on a daily basis, so it’s a really important service.”

Merton Council’s director for community and housing, Simon Williams said; “Sodexo has been a valued contracted partner since 2001.

Delivering the millionth meal to one of our centenarian residents illustrates the contribution that Sodexo have made to maintaining customer health and well-being.”

Merton Council’s contract with Sodexo started in September 2001 and has recently been extended to 2015. The Council subsidises the cost of the meals-on-wheels service to qualifying residents.

Sodexo’s Home Service is also available on a private basis for elderly clients who do not qualify for a subsidised meal, but who would never-the-less benefit from a daily visit, a hot meal and a safe and well check providing peace of mind to next of kin knowing that someone is checking on their loved ones daily.