CAFÉ Results Leaflet


The initial results of the CAFÉ project have been posted out to CAFÉ participants and are available in an A5 leaflet.  If you would like one or more copies of the leaflet please contact Lee Hooper (l.hooper@uea.ac.uk or 01603 591268).  This is the text of that leaflet: 

Who were the CAFÉ participants?

40 women took part in CAFÉ in Norfolk in 2007/8.  Twenty women had individual interviews with Kathleen Lane, the researcher, with follow-up interviews about 5 months later.  A further twenty women took part in group interviews. All of the participants were aged 65 to 95 (average 82), half lived in sheltered accommodation and half lived independently. 


How did the CAFÉ women cook and shop?

All of the women had been responsible for shopping and cooking, often for themselves, a partner and family in the past.  Within the past few years most CAFÉ women had started to cook from scratch fewer than 3 main meals each week. 


About half of CAFÉ participants used ready meals regularly, half attended a lunch club or day centre, and 5 used meals-on-wheels.  Almost half of CAFÉ women relied on others for their main shop.


Thanks to all the women who participated in CAFÉ (whose chosen pseudonyms are overpage), the women who modelled for the cover photos, and all those who helped us contact women who might be interested.


What shopping methods were used?

Most women used a variety of methods to get their shopping.  These included:


  • Walking, public transport, taxi, own car to local shops

  • Shopping with someone else who has a car (son or daughter, friend, neighbour or husband)

  • Voluntary transport services or shop-based buses to supermarket (often with help carrying the shopping)

  • Local shops delivered, ordered in person or by phone

  • Relatives, friends and neighbours picked up shopping

  • Paid carers did all the shopping

  • Doorstep milk deliveries

  • Helper and wheelchair provided by supermarket

  • Relatives ordering shopping by internet

What cooking support was used?

CAFÉ women obtained their main meal in a variety of ways.  In addition to cooking from scratch less than 3 times a week, they used several of these methods:

  • Meals at lunch clubs or day centres

  • Meals-on-wheels

  • Ready meals (bought locally or from companies that deliver two weeks’ worth at one time)

  • Sharing homemade meals with family and friends (often reciprocal)

  • Eating out (often sharing with family and friends, at  café, pub, sheltered housing café or restaurant)

CAFÉ - Key messages


  • Nearly all the women in CAFÉ were continuing to experience changes in their lives, which they were actively managing in creative ways

  • Women made choices around shopping, cooking and eating that helped to maintain and enhance their socialising and enjoyment of life.

  • For many women shopping is more important in maintaining quality of life than cooking.

  • All the women in CAFÉ shopped if they were able to – even if they didn’t enjoy it a great deal.  Shopping got them out, allowed them to meet friends and family, and enabled them to stay organised and in charge. 

  • Some women chose to cook from scratch less often, so they could spend more time on social or enjoyable activities.  They often used ready meals, lunch clubs, day centres and meals out with friends instead. 

Women need better information on services to support their shopping and cooking, greater transport choices and more food suitable for those buying individual portions.  This message will be fed back into policy and planning in Norfolk.

Where do I find out more about services available?

For information about support with cooking and shopping in Norfolk please contact:

  • Age Concern Norfolk - 01603 787111

  • Norfolk County Council Adult Services - 0844 800 8014

Thank you for your interest in CAFÉ.      

For more about CAFÉ phone Lee Hooper on 01603 591268


Funded by the Economic and Social Research Council.


Does cooking / shopping less change how we live our lives and socialise?


Shopping


Staying organised “I’d got a whole [loaf] in the fridge, but I bought another one… I tend to try and keep them in, rather than not be able to find anyone to get me one.” (Deena)


In charge of our lives “that’s so nice to be able to… think, ‘Oh I’ll get some apples,’ and you can choose your own, can’t you?” (Posh)


Socialising “like me he goes to the shop daily really to say hello to people on the way and in the shop” (Irene)


Variety “my shopping list is very boring because it’s more or less the same every week, whereas if I were able to go around the shops I’d think, ‘Oh that looks rather nice this week, I’ll have one of those’” (Helen)


Cooking


Looking after others “I miss very much not feeding my family. …You still want to feel that you’re needed to produce a meal” (Kathleen)


Looking after oneself “I’ve gradually got better in food…  if I don’t cook for myself, I’m going to be ill… I’m going to go down” (Milly)


In charge of our lives “we do all [miss cooking from scratch]…I do like to know what I’m going to have the next day” (Sugababe)


Choices   “I enjoy reading and sewing … which I can get back to if I haven’t got a lot of meal preparation” (Emily)


CAFÉ women made choices to allow them to live social and dynamic lives, solve problems and stay organised and in charge.


All of the women in CAFÉ did their own food shopping if they were able to, whether they enjoyed it or not.


Shopping allows women to get out, meet friends and family, see what is available in the shops, and stay organised and in charge.


Some of the CAFÉ women who cook less now have chosen to do so, so they can spend more time on other activities, such as hobbies, families or friendships.


Some who cook less now have no choice due to disability, these women often miss cooking more.