Staying active and independent
Preparing meals with family and friends
Cooking with other people may improve your social life and it can also be good for the health. You might consider speaking with your trusted neighbours, friends and family to help you with cooking even once or twice per week. There are many resources available online full of exciting recipes, inspiration, ideas and nutrition advice to help you to eat well.
If you wish to prepare your own meals but need support to make certain tasks easier due to physical disabilities, you might benefit from using aids and equipment e.g. perching stools or electronic tin openers. Most mobility centres have a variety of aids for sale at a reasonable price.
Meals and activities in the community
There are various Community Groups in the borough that offer social opportunities, with meals either provided for free or for a small charge. These are a great way to connect with people and increase your social network. These social opportunities have a variety of names such as:
- Lunch Clubs at a local community centre
- UCAN
- Tea and Chatter
Community Food Hubs provide free food to anyone that may need extra support during difficult times.
Please take a look at our Resource Directory to see if there are any near where you live or that you can travel to.
Needing a little help
Home meals delivered to your door
If you are struggling to prepare meals for yourself, or having trouble getting to the supermarket, there are companies which can deliver hot or frozen meals to your door.
- Susan James provide Hot Meals
- Wiltshire Farm Foods provide frozen meals
- Apetito offer both frozen and hot meals. Apetito frozen meals may be delivered by Wiltshire Farm Foods
These companies only use drivers who have passed an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
Anyone can access these services. It is a good option if you are unable to prepare and cook at least one hot meal a day and would like to maintain your independence and quality of life.
There are other options you can choose from, including other delivery services, supermarkets and shops.
Someone to support you to prepare meals
You could also make private arrangements for a carer to prepare meals for you in your own home. You can use our Resource Directory to see a list of home care agencies registered and inspected by the Care Quality Commission that you might want to contact and ask for support with preparing meals.
Homeshare Scheme enables two unrelated people to share a home for mutual benefit. The homesharer benefits from low cost accommodation, while the householder receives companionship and practical help in and around their home.
Benefits include:
- Assists people who need support such as older people, stay in their own homes for longer
- Provides affordable accommodation for younger people or key workers, as a time of record housing shortages and high rent
To find out more about Homesharing Scheme visit the Age Uk website or Homeshare.
Additional assistance
If you are still having problems preparing food and drinks, you may need assistance from Social care.
To be eligible, you must be 18 or over, live in the London Borough of Enfield and meet eligibility criteria. Assistance is available to people who need practical support due to:
- sight or hearing loss
- physical or learning disabilities
- frailty or illness
You might be also eligible to receive support if you are recovering from a hospital stay and needing temporary support to maintain your independence and quality of life. In order to work out what services you are entitled to we will need to carry out an assessment. At the assessment we will identify and agree what support you require and discuss what support is available in your local area.