Meal Programs

Many communities have at least one type of senior nutrition program that provides nutritious meals to those who are unable to prepare meals for themselves. There are as many as 5,000 such programs in the United States, according to The Administration on Aging. Many other options are available to remove the burden of meal planning and preparation from an over-stressed caregiver.

Types of Meal Programs to Consider

• Meals on Wheels
  • This service offers home delivered, ready-to-eat meals. Most programs can accommodate special diet requests and often the delivery volunteer can become an extra set of eyes to check in on the well-being of an isolated elder.
• Congregate meal programs
  • Many local senior centers offer daily meals in a social setting. This can often provide a dual benefit, giving the care recipient both the opportunity to get out of the house and socialize with peers, and the value of a nourishing meal. Often a local senior transport company coordinates with the meal sites, making this a relatively easy solution for someone who no longer drives.
• Meal preparation businesses
  • There are over 1,300 companies in the U.S. that supply all of the ingredients to assemble a week’s worth of meals at their location. The meals can then be frozen and prepared as needed. Each meal includes thawing and cooking instructions. Many of these services also offer assembly of the meals and delivery.
• Personal chef services
  • There are now many personal chefs who will come in and make one or more meals in your home. Some will also prepare them off-site and deliver them to your home.
• Home care provider
  • Bringing in a home care agency or private home care provider can help to meet the need of meals including planning, shopping, and preparation. See the Toghers article on Home Care for more information on finding a home care provider.

How do I find a Meal Program?

• The Meals on Wheels Association of America offers a search by zip code: http://www.mowaa.org
• The Easy Meal Prep website has a listing of over 1,300 sites in the United States: http://www.easymealprep.com/main/direct01.php
• Check your local yellow pages under senior meals, meal preparation, or private chef
• Do an online search for “meal preparation YOUR CITY”
• Do an online search for “meals on wheels YOUR CITY”
• Call your local senior center to see if they have a congregate meal site

How do I choose a Meal Program?

This will depend on the needs of you and your care recipient as well as the options available in your area.

The following table will help you decide which of the options might be best for you:

	Do I need the meals delivered?	Am I on a fixed budget?	Do I have special diet needs?	Am I choosy about the foods that I eat?
Meals on Wheels	X	X	X
Congregate meal program		X	X
Meal preparation business	X (some providers)			X
Personal Chef	X		X	X
Home Care Agency	X	X (if other tasks are also needed)	X	X
Private Home Care Provider	X	X	X	X

Who pays for Meal Programs?

While some programs, like Meals on Wheels or in-home care agencies, may offer sliding scale rates, meals are not covered by insurance and must be paid for privately. Many meal programs are subsidized by federal or state funds and are often offered at very reasonable rates.

How do I introduce the idea of Meal Program to my care recipient or a caregiver I am concerned about?

• Give them a gift certificate for the service
• Involve them in the decision—let them see the menus
• Say you are thinking about doing it for yourself also
• Let them know that these services exist because many people don’t have time to plan, shop, and prepare healthy meals—they are not alone

Copyright © 2008 by Toghers

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