FAQs

General FAQs

• Who can get Meals on Wheels?

  We provide nutritional support to a broad section of the community, including the elderly, people with a disability and other vulnerable people including those recovering from illness, hospital stays or procedures.

  Meals on Wheels is a not for profit organisation.  Our aims are:

  • To provide a quality nutritious meal delivered to your door
  • To monitor the health, safety and wellbeing of our clients
  • To provide a service that brings people together
  • To enable the client to remain living at home for as long as possible
  • To maintain and enhance clients' independence and quality of life
  • To prevent early or unnecessary admission to hospital or aged care facility

• What is the cost of a meal?

  Meals on Wheels clients pay a fee for each meal delivered to their door. Every effort is made to keep meals as affordable as possible, particularly as many recipients are on a pension. Cost of meals and menu choices vary from service to service and depend upon conditions and factors prevailing to the particular area of the local service. Variations in the cost of meat, fruit and vegetables all affect the meal price, therefore each local Meals on Wheels service sets the cost for its meals. It is through a combination of volunteers, Government assistance, clients and the wonderful community support which assists in minimising the cost of producing the meals. Call us on 1300 90 97 90 and we will happily provide you with further information about cost in your local area and arrange for meals service to start.

  Payment for meals is arranged with your local Meals on Wheels Service Provider.

• How do I store my meal?

  1. Meals can not be left in eskies if you are not home.
  2. Storing food correctly is very important for food safety, enjoyment and nutrition.  Bugs are normally present in all foods and if they grow to large numbers they can make you feel sick. This is called food poisoning. Perishable foods should not be left out of the refrigerator longer than necessary. The cold temperature slows the grown of food poisoning bugs. The dangerous part is that you often cannot taste or smell that the food is spoiled. The longer food is left out, the more likely it is to be spoiled.
  3. Your Meals on Wheels meal may be delivered Hot, Chilled or Frozen.
     Chilled Meals must be stored in the refrigerator until you are ready to reheat the meal. Follow the reheating instructions given to you by the Meals on Wheels Service. If you do not eat all the meal you must throw away the remainder. The meal must be consumed before the 'Use by Date'.
     Hot Meals must be eaten immediately. If this does not happen for some reason, you must throw away the remainder.
     Frozen Meals should be stored in the freezer until you are ready to eat them. Reheat according to the directions so that they are heated all the way through.
     Never refreeze a frozen meal once it has been thawed out.
  4. If you are not going to be home when the Meals on Wheels volunteer delivers your meal, it is your responsibility to advise the Coordinator the previous day, so alternative arrangements can be made.

• What are my Responsibilities as a Client?

  • To pay the Meals on Wheels Service for your meals.
  • To advise the Meals on Wheels Service if you are not going to be home when the meal is delivered (if you are not home when the volunteer arrives, the meal will not be left).
  • To advise the Meals on Wheels Service if you are going to be absent for any short or extended time.
  • To advise the Meals on Wheels Service of your special dietary needs.
  • To correctly store your meal immediately if not eaten straight away.

• What are my Rights as a Client?

  • You have a right to express your concerns about the service without fear of losing the service.
  • You have a right to have your complaints dealt with fairly and promptly.
  • You have a right to be represented by an Advocate of your choice.
  • You have a right to be assessed to receive meals without discrimination.
  • You have a right to have your specific dietary requirements met where possible.
  • You have a right to privacy and confidentiality.
  • You can expect that no information about you will be provided to anyone else outside the service without your permission.
  • You have a right to view any information about yourself held by the service.
  • You have a right to refuse the service without retribution.
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• How do I provide feedback or make a complaint about my Service?

  Meals on Wheels encourages all clients, staff and volunteers to provide both positive and negative feedback on the service to ensure that clients receive the best possible service. If you find that you are unhappy about the service in any way, you can follow the procedure below:

  Contact your Service Coordinator in the first instance with the complaint.
  If you are not satisfied with the Coordinator's response, contact the Management Committee or Manager of your Service
  If you are still not satisfied with the response to your complaint you can contact the following:

  Aged Care Complaint Commissioner

  Department of Health and Ageing
  GPO Box 9848
  Brisbane QLD 4001
  Ph: 1800 550 552
  Web: www.agedcarecomplaints.gov.au

  Aged and Disability Advocacy Australia (ADA)
  121 Copperfield Street
  Geebung QLD 4034
  Ph: 07 3637 6000 - Brisbane
  Ph: 1800 818 338 - Regional Areas
  Email: info@adaaustralia.com.au
  Web: https://adaaustralia.com.au

  Under 65 (or under 50 for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Island People) or have a disability, contact the:

  Department of Communities, Child Safety & Disability
  111 George Street, Brisbane QLD 4001
  GPO Box 9848, Brisbane QLD 4001
  Ph: 13 74 68
  Web: www.communities.qld.gov.au

  Aged and Disability Advocacy Australia (ADA)
  121 Copperfield Street
  Geebung QLD 4034
  Ph 07 3637 6000 - Brisbane
  Ph: 1800 818 38 - Regional Areas
  Email: info@adaaustralia.com.au
  Web: https://adaaustralia.com.au

Donation FAQs

• Why support Queensland Meals on Wheels services?

  Meals on Wheels is an iconic charity that has been bringing local communities together nationwide for over 65 years.

  The 6,500 volunteers who make Meals on Wheels possible deliver just over 2.6 million meals a year to more than 19,000 people in Queensland with a wide variety of support needs, not just meals for seniors. We help people who are recovering after hospitalisation, a major illness or surgery, people with a disability, carers, or people requiring assistance due to a special circumstance.

  The volunteers provide much needed social interaction and a link to the community so our housebound clients are not so isolated.

  Meals on Wheels offer much more than a meal by providing a daily visit to monitor the health and well being of the clients who may not see anyone else during the day.

  Limited government funding for Meals on Wheels services and a growing need for our services in the community means increasing reliance upon the help of many generous volunteers, monetary donations and also benefactors to assist us in our role.

  Donations and bequests are a tangible way of ensuring continuance of quality care for people with a wide variety of support needs thus enabling them to reside for as long as possible where they are most happiest – in their own home.

• Where do the funds go?

  We ensure all monies raised help us make a real difference to local Queensland communities by assisting our financially disadvantaged clients.

• How will my donation make a difference?

  Your generosity, at both an individual and corporate level, will go towards ensuring that this wonderful service stays strong and continues to offer valuable and important work supporting the community.

  Donations to our fully tax deductible gift fund will help us to assist our most marginalised clients, for example:

  $30 – provides a nutritious three course meal for two days for a Queenslander living with a disability;
  $75 – provides a nutritious three course meal for five days for an elder within the community;
  $650 – subsidises the monthly petrol costs for our volunteers at one Service to deliver meals and a cheery smile to our valued clients.

  Your support will go towards ensuring that this wonderful service remains a part of the community fabric for many years to come.