Council’s Meals on Wheels service delivered more than 5,880 meals in April to homes in Brimbank who needed extra support during the COVID-19 emergency – more than double what was delivered to homes over the same month last year.
The meals were sent out to older people and people with a disability that were required to self-isolate to stay safe during this health emergency.
For 86-year-old St Albans resident Richard Turner carrying on during COVID-19 has been a lot less stressful thanks to his weekly Meals on Wheels service, fortnightly home care and support from his family.
‘I’m looked after pretty well. I get four meals a week, 95 per cent of them are great, and home help each fortnight from Council,’ the great grandfather said.
‘I do miss seeing my family. But we keep in touch on the phone a lot. When I go out, I keep to myself. If I go out anywhere I try to keep away from other people.’
Brimbank said Council’s essential services, like Meals on Wheels, have been boosted by staff whose normal roles have been affected by the COVID-19 restrictions.
‘It is wonderful to hear that these services are helping Brimbank’s most vulnerable community members stay safe during COVID-19’, Cr Papafotiou said.
Since mid-April, 18 Council leisure centre staff have taken on alternative duties including delivering meals and parks and maintenance to help meet the demand for these services.
Cr Papafotiou recently visited Brimbank’s frontline workers who were delivering these meals to thank them personally.
‘I applaud the efforts of all our staff working in community care that are delivering much-needed support,’ Cr Papafotiou said.
‘Whether they are helping deliver meals, home care, personal care, domestic assistance or respite they are doing it in very challenging and stressful circumstances.’
Another Council service experiencing high demand has been Council’s Community Register.
About 700 people on this register receive regular phone calls from volunteers and Council staff. The level of phone calls has increased significantly to these vulnerable clients during COVID-19 to ensure they were well supported. The service also had an influx of new inquiries for support.
