Low-cost or free Meals on Wheels home delivery in your area.
Seniors, the disabled and homebound can receive free or low cost meals or get a box of food delivered to their home from a Meals on Wheels program near them. The delivery service is provided by thousands of local volunteer groups, senior or agency on Aging centers, churches and non-profits. Find how to get a free hot or frozen meal or box of food delivered to where you live.
Many local Salvation Army centers, Catholic Charities, churches, Agency on Aging centers and other charity type organizations administer the free Meals on Wheels program. The food delivered by a social service organization will be healthy and meet USDA guidelines. Both fresh food as well as frozen items or hot meals as well as perishables (fruits, vegetables, etc.) may be delivered. The exact types of food delivered by a local Meals on Wheels service varies based on donation levels and many other factors.
Meals on Wheels is food delivery for seniors, the homebound and the disabled
|
The Meals on Wheels program was created to help people who struggle to get to the store, which tend to be the elderly, disabled and seniors. There are zero income limits, so Meals on Wheels will help people no matter their income get free food delivered. It can also often help people with a serious medical emergency, such as recovering from surgery. Top priority is given to the homebound, which generally will be seniors or someone with a handicap who are unable to get groceries on their own and who can’t prepare their own meals.
- Note there are various terms and conditions that can be put into place. As an example, some agencies that deliver meals to a home will restrict free home delivered meals to individuals with medical conditions, mental impairments, or physical disabilities. In other words those with healthcare condition.
- There is general priority for seniors over the age of 60 that lack transportation as well as homebound disabled adults. The Meals on Wheels driver will bring a free hot (or frozen deal) and also visit the client, which is a form of a wellness check.
Unfortunately the demand is great, and resources are limited. So some organizations that may be near you may have a waiting list which fluctuates week by week and the waiting period can be as long as several weeks.
Types of food and meals from Meals on Wheels
|
Through the Meals on Wheel program, a volunteer who works for one of the participating organizations will deliver a free or low cost, USDA approved healthy meal directly to the homebound senior citizen's door. All food and ingredients, including low-sodium or healthy groceries, that are served will be prepared fresh at local kitchens or they may be surplus food donated by a restaurant or grocery store. However the food may be “frozen” before it is delivered - but again it varies. Some locations that deliver hot meals to seniors or the disabled are close to restaurant quality - but it varies.
They are then both packaged and delivered to the client on the same day they are made, with free breakfast, lunch or dinners sometimes offered from Meals on Wheels. So the meals are often served hot. All meals that are prepared will be planned to meet one-third of the current USDA recommended dietary allowances of a typical senior.
Criteria for free meals delivered from local agencies
|
The exact eligibility requirements for Meals on Wheels service may vary by county or program, but in general they will include such conditions as follows.
- The applicant must be homebound.
- The person must not be able to take care of themselves, which usually means the individual applying for Meals on Wheels needs to be at least 60 years of age or older, disabled, or in serious medical condition. They also need to lack transportation. Most agencies will also provide free meals to the spouse or partner of a person at least 60 years of age.
- The person who needs food, Ensure or a meal must be unable to attend a local Senior Center or food pantry because of emotional or physical disabilities. A priority for delivery is the homebound, and they need to lack a car or transportation to a local grocery store or restaurant - fast food location.
- Applicants must be elderly, physically or emotionally unable to obtain food, disabled, or otherwise can’t prepare full meals on their own. Meals on Wheels will also often help younger adults with disabilities, those recovering from major surgeries, and anyone else who is homebound and facing difficulties in accessing nutritious food.
While not always required, and again this depends on the local service, many free Meals on Wheels programs ask for a very small monetary “donation” for each meal or box of food delivered. All donations will always go directly back into the program to help provide meals and food to others. So the contribution will offset operating costs, such as the transportation costs of the agency to deliver the food. Some programs just could use a donation, but it may not be required.
Meals on Wheels additional benefits
|
Other help is provided by a Meals on Wheels program in your community as well. Not only will a non-profit provide hot, fresh, and nourishing meals but the volunteer also visits the senior or handicapped person. They can check to ensure the Meals on Wheels recipient is still healthy, and the driver is also a form of companion which helps address isolation. Dedicated volunteers and staff members near you will often be able to help senior citizen clients by visiting them in their homes, shopping for them, delivering meals or boxes of groceries and companionship.
- The home delivered meals, the daily contact by caring volunteers who deliver them and the professional case management allow seniors, homebound persons and the frail to remain in their own home. Some locations may even offer holiday meals for Thanksgiving or Christmas. Or volunteer drivers bring protein and nutritional items brought as part of Meals on Wheels, such as free supplements given if needed, such as Ensure or Boost drinks. Learn more on low income free Ensure drinks.
Social workers/volunteers from Meals on wheels non-profit organizations will conduct regular visits with clients. They will consult with the drivers and volunteers who deliver food and see clients daily. For those clients in need of additional support, case managers provide referrals, assist with various emergencies and provide ongoing support services.
For example, many free food delivery clients are in need of additional in-home help such as cleaning, laundry, and personal care such as dressing and bathing. The agencies may be able to address those needs.
- Most organizations that run Meals on Wheels programs can also arrange for free or low cost medical care.
- They can coordinate transportation for doctor’s appointments or provide advice and help with medical insurance issues.
- Social workers also assist with housing issues (such as rental assistance), personal and home safety and cases of domestic abuse.
Not only can food be brought to the homebound by Meals on Wheels, but there are other ways to save money using this service or to get free food. It is possible to shop online to get items delivered. As frozen meals, food, and groceries can be delivered overnight using dozens of services. Find how to get free coupons for this type of shopping.
Find your local Meals on Wheels program near you
|
Agency on Aging food delivery programs operate in all states as well as local communities. These are non-profits that often use government funds as part of the Older Americans Act (OAA) Nutrition Program. Almost all locations will bring a few days supply of either (1) frozen food or (2) hot meals to clients. The homebound, disabled, lonely, and senior citizens can use the free delivery services from an Area on Aging Center in their local community. Find free food programs from Agency on Aging.
Meals on Wheels America is a national non-profit that helps facilitate local delivery services. Thousands of local groups and tens of thousands of volunteers participate to help the homebound get free or low cost food (frozen and sometimes fresh). There are more resources offered too, and continue reading about find Meals on Wheels America home delivered meals.
Free meals delivery services are arranged by Feeding America food bank locations. This is a nationwide network of non-profits. They work with food pantries and soup kitchens on various hunger prevention programs, and Meals on Wheels is but one. Feeding America offers referrals, advice, and information on USDA assistance programs. Get details on free meals and food from Feeding America locations.
Medicaid Home and Community Based Services, which is available on most states, will deliver meals to low-income seniors or people with a disability. As the goal of the benefit program is to allow people to reason in their home (vs. a nursing home) and free delivery of groceries, food and meals is part of that. The service is arranged by many local Meals on Wheels organizations with more details here https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/home-community-based-services.
There may be other places to try as well. Find information on a number of non-profits agencies by state and county that may offer the Meals on Wheels program and other aid, such as case management. Either use the search box on this page to search by county or city, or find a comprehensive list of non-profit agencies by state (including pantries or soup kitchens) that may offer free home delivery of meals. Find charities food bank assistance programs.
Another service available is the free home delivery of pet food that is available near you in some counties and towns. This will be for seniors, the homebound and disabled that meet low income levels. The reason this delivery service started is that many clients were giving their meals to their cats or dogs, so now many non-profits are trying to fill this gap in service. Read Meals on Wheels pet food.
Conclusion
This system of integrated care from the non-profit, free Meals on Wheels program provides a link between social services as well as the meals. The goal is to offer resources that a senior or homebound individual may need to remain living independent in their own home.
Related Content From Needhelppayingbills.com
|
