Meal Delivery for an Elderly Parent with Dementia: Joan's Parsley Box Story

This month, we're sharing a story about Joan and her family, a story about family, independence and finding simple solutions that make everyday life a little easier.

Joan has worked in a hospital stroke unit, and her partner provides companionship care, so caring for others isn't new to her. What's changed lately is that some of that care now goes to her own dad, who's 93 and living with early-stage dementia. He lives independently, around 40 minutes away from Joan.

Joan visits regularly, cooks him a fresh meal each week, and helps with his shopping, alongside the frozen meals he also receives from his local authority. He likes doing things his own way, and Joan works hard to help him keep it that way.

Joan's way of keeping Dad involved

When she visits, Joan likes to keep her dad involved in the small decisions that make his week feel like his own, what he fancies eating, what he fancies trying next.

"I generally give Dad the catalogue to choose from, and then I order it online while I'm there."

That moment together, flicking through the catalogue, choosing meals side by side, is one of the small rituals Joan looks forward to when she visits. He picks. She orders. It's his call.

Finding a meal delivery service that fitted Dad's needs

Joan first heard about Parsley Box through her partner, who was providing care for someone who also enjoyed Parsley Box meals. Having spent years around other meal delivery options for the elderly through her hospital work, she knew the landscape well, but Parsley Box stood out.

"I'd heard of other meal services, but I hadn't heard of Parsley Box. Once we found it, it really fitted what Dad needed."

Her dad already had frozen meals from his local authority, and the meals Joan cooks each week. After a broken hip made having easy meals on hand feel even more important, Parsley Box slotted in alongside both, without asking him to find extra freezer space or change how he does things.

"He has the frozen meals, I cook once a week, and then the other days he'll have Parsley Box. It works really well for that in-between thing."

Meals with no freezer space needed

One of the things Joan values most is how little her dad has to think ahead. He wouldn't tend to remember to take something out of the freezer to defrost, but he can take a Parsley Box meal straight from the cupboard and put it in the microwave himself, whenever he wants it, no freezer space required.

"He wouldn't tend to take something out to defrost, but he is able to take something out and microwave it."

The long shelf life means Joan doesn't have to worry about anything going out of date in his cupboard, or about food going to waste.

"He's not in danger of eating stuff that's out of date, and we're not wasting food anymore. That's very reassuring."

He'll usually enjoy a Parsley Box meal for lunch two or three times a week, alongside everything else on the table. It's simply become part of the shape of his week, something to look forward to on the days it's his turn to choose.

"He's not eating Parsley Box all the time, but it fills that gap perfectly."

Reassurance between visits

Joan is doing what a lot of people quietly do without ever calling it a job - working, caring for others through her partner's work, and still making the 40-minute journey to see her dad, cook for him, and check on him regularly. For Joan, there's a quieter benefit in all of that too. Knowing there's always something good waiting in the cupboard gives her a sense of ease between visits - one less thing to hold in her head while she's juggling everything else.

"I've found it really useful in this situation, it's really helpful. Yes, I would recommend it."

A small part of something that works

Parsley Box was never meant to replace the meals her dad already has, or the ones Joan cooks for him herself. It's simply another good option in the mix, a bit more choice, a bit more independence for him, and a little peace of mind for Joan in between her visits.

Stories like Joan's are why we do this. She's spent her career caring for others and now spends her time doing the same for her dad, and we're proud that something as small as a meal in the cupboard can make that easier for her, even a little.

We're so grateful to Joan for letting us into her and her dad's routine, and even more grateful for everything she does, for him and for everyone she looks after. Her story is exactly what Cooking That Cares means to us.