Age Concern has raised concerns that frozen food only will be delivered to Meals on Wheels customers in future.

There are just 22 working days to go before the government ends its Meal on Wheels contract.

And Age Concern says it wants a commitment from the Department of Health and Social Care to speak individually to every older person in receipt of Meals on Wheels before the charity’s contract ends on January 12.

Chief executive Helen Southworth said: ’All of the people who use the current Meals on Wheels service have been assessed by the DHSC as needing support with getting a regular meal. Eighty-four of the current service users are between 90 to 102 years of age.

’Age Concern Isle of Man is very concerned that some of the current service users will find it difficult to cope when they stop having a daily visit and help to order their choice of food, and become ordinary customers who have to make their own arrangements.’

The DHSC has distributed an information leaflet outlining the options for customers of Meals on Wheels after January 12, which names two businesses that will deliver meals to homes - Wiltshire Farm Foods and Jack Frost.

But Age Concern is concerned that the meals provided by Wiltshire Farm and Jack Frost are frozen, unlike the current Meals on Wheels service.

The charity fears some older people may struggle to heat the frozen food properly and believes the loss of social contact for some recipients will have a detrimental effect on their well-being. Mrs Southworth said: ’Meals on Wheels is more than just a meal. Including well-being and safety checks, it is a lifeline to older people who live alone and may not see anyone else during the day.

’When Meals on Wheels service users on the Isle of Man were surveyed, 33% said they saw no one other than the Meals on Wheels driver on the days that meals were delivered..

She said she was surprised that the DHSC has stated that the current Meals on Wheels contract does not provide for special diets.

’Meals on Wheels food is prepared by the Noble’s Hospital kitchen and provides for the full range of dietary needs, including pureed, soft, low-salt, low-sugar, gluten free and allergy,’ she said. ’The food is prepared fresh locally, and offers choice from a menu.

’The issue of cost is also a concern. In particular, people who need special pureed diets will see a significant increase in price.’

She added: ’We hope that at the very least the DHSC speaks to and visits every person who now gets Meals on Wheels, and makes sure they have all been able to order appropriate food, that they all have support to reheat the frozen food properly, and that they all have a freezer to store the food, so that no one experiences detriment when the government stops the Meals on Wheels contract on January 12.’