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Senior Meals

Senior Meals

We’ve found the best senior meal delivery providers in Australia offering time-saving and effortless solutions to those needing a helping hand around mealtimes! Compare providers and key information to make the right decisions for your next prepared meal service.

By
Alex Hamlin

Written by

Alex Hamlin
Certified Nutritionist

Alex Joy Nutrition supports busy individuals with health goals, offering holistic nutrition guidance to reduce stress and foster balanced, healthy habits. Specialising in empowering high achievers, Alex emphasises a preventative and management-focused approach to health. As a clinical nutritionist, Alex provides individuals with tools and education for taking control of their health. She advocates for optimal nutrition as the cornerstone of wellness, employing a food-first approach complemented by holistic treatments. With evidence-based practices, Alex offers personalised guidance to help individuals reach their health goals, prioritising health at the forefront. In health content creation, Alex delivers concise, informative, and engaging material rooted in evidence-based practices, educating, inspiring and guiding others on their wellness journey.

Updated September 1, 2024
Fact checked Fully qualified and expert nutritionists have reviewed and checked this content to ensure it is as accurate as possible at the time of writing.
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What are senior-friendly meals?

Meal delivery for pensioners and seniors captures meals that are flavoursome, texture-friendly and nutritionally formulated range options. They often will include a range of options that cater to dietary requirements, tailorable inclusions and plan types that offer multiple meal types throughout the week. 

Elderly meals often will allow for alternate delivery options allowing for delivery to be made to aged care and retirement homes. They also will typically offer senior discounts for home-delivered meals for seniors.

Are senior meals healthy?

As with all meal delivery services consumers will need to analyse and compare meals between providers and determine if they meet their nutritional requirements. Most food delivery for the elderly do take into account dietary requirements like meeting recommended dietary intake for macronutrients such as protein.

Elderly meals don’t necessarily always cater to being healthy. Consumers should ensure they check the nutritional panel and ingredient lists of meals before committing to a service.

To learn how to read the nutrition panel and ingredient list read our “How to Read a Food Label in Australia” guide to help you out.

 

Are meal delivery services cheaper for seniors?

Meal providers that are catering to the elderly will often accept seniors cards or senior savers cards, for which consumers can register their senior’s card to receive a discounted meal service with accepting providers. 

Seniors can apply for Home Care Packages (HCP) as a way to access services for assisted help at home which can include meal delivery services (excluding food costs). This service is created for those who require more need for care. For those who are entitled to NDIS providings check our NDIS page for providers and information concerning food services.

What is the best food delivery for seniors?

Everyone’s meal preparation is different, it’s important to find a company that caters to your needs, dietary requirements, financial position, and of course your taste preferences! For those who are looking for prepared meals delivered for the elderly, Thr1ve is a senior-friendly option with a wide range of meal options. They also cater Home Care Package (HCP) and Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP), as well as​​National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

Hello Fresh also offers senior discounted meal services on their range of meal kits! At the time of writing this (March 2022), Hello Fresh offers 10% off every box for the elderly and for new customers they’ll receive 40% off their 1st Box & 30% off their 2nd box.

Check out Hello Fresh!

Most popular senior meal delivery in NSW

Tender Loving Cuisine – offers food delivery for seniors that offer a wide range of selections catering to different tastes, a range of dietary restrictions and offer senior discounts. At the time of writing this (March 2022), savings are available of up to 13% for those with a senior card. They offer delivery for a range of suburbs throughout Sydney Metropolitan, Canberra, Melbourne Metro, Gold Coast, Tweed Coast, Brisbane, Sunshine Coast, Toowoomba, NSW North Coast, Newcastle, Port Stephens, Central Coast, Southern Highlands and NSW South Coast.

Most popular senior meal delivery in VIC

Thr1ve – meals are a popular prepared meal service offering options for seniors with a wide seasonal menu that often is updated with new ranges.

They currently offer meals to NSW, VIC, QLD & ACT Metro areas.

Most popular senior meal delivery in QLD

Gourmet Meals provide ready-made meals for the elderly with a range of options to suit most dietary needs.

There are no lock-in contracts with the flexibility to order as casually or frequently as possible.

Most popular senior meal delivery in other states

Hello Fresh Meals Kits offer senior-friendly discounted meals with a wide array of options and refreshing seasonal choices.

They offer delivery to NSW, VIC, ACT, QLD, NT, SA, WA, TAS. 

Hello Fresh Meal Kits
Visit Hello Fresh!

What are the Pros & Cons of senior meal delivery?

low carb meals pros and cons

Senior Meal Pros

  • Discounted Meals - Meals are provided at a discounted rate or in some cases complimentary, as most are subsidized by schemes or programmes.
  • Ready to eat - Meals are ready to eat when delivered, without the pressure of having to prepare ingredients or cook.
  • Supports those with limitations - For seniors who suffer from limitations, cooking their meals can be an impossible or overwhelming task. Ordering meals without having to rely on family or friends offer an element of independence and choice. Meals can also be ordered as frequently or casually as they like, most providers don’t have lock-in contracts.
  • Nutrition - Prepared meals often can ensure the elderly receive adequate nutrition that they may struggle to prepare or source on their own. Meals prepared by dietitians or nutritionists often ensure meals are nutrient-dense with vitamins, minerals, fibre, and protein to nourish consumers.

Senior Meal Cons

  • Selective deals- Some meal providers in order to receive discounted meals require to meet a certain standard or qualification based on status which may create reachability issues for those that require assistance but can’t meet specific criterias.
  • May not be budget-friendly for everyone - These meal services can be financially prohibitive for the elderly and family members who are on a budget.
  • May not meet nutritional needs - When seniors rely on meal services, they may experience inadequate nutrition especially if the services they are choosing aren’t healthy and nutritionally directed to their age group.

Key factors when comparing senior meal delivery companies

When choosing the right option for you, consider the following factors:

Meal Customisation

Are meal providers allowing for tailored meals to meet texture or dietary requirements?

Many elderly consumers may have health conditions or nutritional requirements that need catering to, check out each provider to see what their stance is on meeting individual dietary needs.

Senior Discounts

Despite senior discounts each provider will price meals differently based on delivery, quality of produce, seasonality, cost to prepare meals etc.

Compare providers to see if your budget meets their price points.

Nutrition

It’s important to consider nutritional needs that differ from person to person and this is particularly true in the elderly.

Ensure meals are nutritionally formulated with the elderly in mind, look for providers that have a dietitian-designed meal range and check nutritional values of meals before committing to a service.

To understand how macronutrients play a role in your diet, read our guide here.

Delivery

If you require delivery to be made to a specific location such as a retirement home, aged care facility, hospital etc.

Ensure this provider specifies they can deliver to your door – some providers will only take meals to doorsteps of stand-alone residential homes.

Senior Meal Delivery FAQs

Gourmet Meals offer consumers the flexibility to explore meal ranges with filtered dietary requirements by selecting options from dairy-free, salt reduced, high fibre, high protein and more. They offer a wide range of meal options including dessert, snacks, soups, sides and different portion sizes.

Yes, Tender Loving Cuisine caters to a range of dietary needs including protein preferences such as meat, poultry, seafood, vegetarian etc. They also specify if a meal is texturally soft and palatable for those who need specification.

Tender Loving Cuisines deliver to your home, business, retirement village or Care organisations direct to your door.

Yes most offer NDIS coverage including Thr1ve, Tender Loving Cuisine and Gourmet Meals.

Hello Fresh offers meal kit options for seniors straight to their door! They offer heavily discounted meal plan options for the elderly with flexibility in plan types to meet most requirements. 

Everyone’s requirements will be different ingredients wise, nutritionally and texturally. Some safe options include slow cooked meals that are soft, including soups and broths filled with soft cooked vegetables and protein rich soft meats with shredded chicken or beans or lentils. Not only are these types of meals nourishing and full of easy to chew ingredients, they are warming and easy to digest.

Search and compare wellness and health delivery services in Australia including meal kits, ready to eat meal delivery, vitamin subscriptions and much more at Wellhub. All content and information on this site is provided by qualified Australian nutritionists to ensure accurate representation of all products reviewed. Learn more about our expert team here.