Meals on Wheels

For the film, see Wheels on Meals.

Meals on Wheels are programs that deliver meals to individuals at home who are unable to purchase or prepare their own meals. The name is often used generically to refer to home-delivered meals programs, not all of which are actually named "Meals on Wheels". Because they are housebound, many of the recipients are the elderly, and many of the volunteers are also elderly but able-bodied and able to drive wheeled vehicles, usually a van.

Meals on Wheels "HotShot" delivery vehicle, Hamburg Township, Michigan

History

Meals on Wheels originated in Great Britain during the Blitz, when many people lost their homes and therefore the ability to cook their own food. The Women's Volunteer Service for Civil Defence, (WVS, later WRVS), provided food for these people. The name "Meals on Wheels" derived from the WVS's related activity of bringing meals to servicemen. The concept of delivering meals to those unable to prepare their own evolved into the modern programmes that deliver mostly to the housebound elderly for free or with donations.^[1][2][3]

Great Britain (1947)

The first home delivery of a meal on wheels following World War II was made by the WVS in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, England in 1947. Many early services used old prams to transport the meals, using straw bales, and even old felt hats, to keep the meals warm in transit.^[1]

This type of service requires many volunteers with an adequate knowledge of basic cooking to prepare the meals by a set time each day. The majority of local authorities have now moved away from freshly cooked food delivery, and towards the supply of frozen pre-cooked reheatable meals.^[4]

Australia (1952)

In Australia, Meals on Wheels started in 1952 in South Melbourne. The meals were delivered by a lady on a tricycle.^[2] When it became too much for her to cope with, the Red Cross took over.

Doris Taylor founded Meals on Wheels in South Australia in 1953, and in 1954 the first meal was served from the Port Adelaide kitchen.^[5] The first meals were delivered to eight elderly Port Adelaide residents on 9 August 1954.^[6][7]

In New South Wales, Meals on Wheels was started in March 1957 by the Sydney City Council. In the first week, 150 meals were served for inner city dwellers; these were cooked in the Town Hall kitchen.^[2]

Organised on a regional basis, in Australia Meals on Wheels is a well established, active and thriving group of organisations; the interested reader can easily find more information on the web. The history of a small sample of some of the organisations includes: New South Wales,^[2][8] Queensland,^[9][10] South Australia,^[11][12][13] and Victoria.^[14]

United States (1954)

Pennsylvania

The first home-delivered meal program in the United States began in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in January 1954. At the request of the Philadelphia Health & Welfare Council, and funded by a grant from the Henrietta Tower Wurtz Foundation, Margaret Toy, a social worker in Philadelphia's Lighthouse Community Center, pioneered a program to provide nourishment that met the dietary needs of homebound seniors and other "shut-ins" in the area who otherwise would have to go hungry. As is the case today, many participants were people who did not require hospitalization, but who simply needed a helping hand in order to maintain their independence. Most of the volunteers were high school students, who were dubbed "Platter Angels." The "Platter Angels" would prepare, package, and deliver food to the elderly and disabled through their community. The daily delivery consisted of one nutritionally balanced hot meal to eat at lunch time, and a dinner consisting of a cold sandwich and milk along with varying side dishes.

Ohio

Columbus, Ohio, was the second city in the U.S. to establish a community based meals program. Building on the model set forth in Philadelphia, a federation of women's clubs went through the town to inform themselves of possible participants for a meal service. In Columbus, all of the meals were prepared by local restaurants and delivered by taxi cabs during the week. On weekends, high school students filled the posts.

New York

The city of Rochester, New York, began its home-delivered meal program in 1958. It was originally a pilot project initiated by the New York Department of Health and administered by the Visiting Nurse Service. The Bureau of Chronic Diseases and Geriatrics of the New York Department of Health underwrote the costs.

National

As cities nationwide eventually followed with similar programs, the Meals On Wheels Association of America (MOWAA) was established.^[3]

California

Also in the late 1950s, a group of concerned women in San Diego, California recognized that isolated seniors were in need of regular meals and human contact. So, what was to become Meals-on-Wheels Greater San Diego, Inc. was born in 1960, and has served area seniors for 50 years. When the national association, Meals on Wheels Association of America (MOWAA), sought guidance with the parameters to be used in the evaluation process for locally-run agencies, Meals-on-Wheels Greater San Diego was used as a model to help define the benchmark for successful operations, and "set the standard" for approval. The mission of Meals-on-Wheels Greater San Diego, Inc. is to support the independence and well-being of seniors. A private, not-for-profit corporation, Meals-on-Wheels San Diego strives to keep seniors independent in their own homes by delivering meals to those who are unable to adequately meet their own nutritional needs. Often, the availability of this service enables seniors to avoid seeking institutional alternatives. From modest beginnings, Meals-on-Wheels has grown into one of the largest senior service programs in Southern California. Meals-on-Wheels is currently the only organization in the area home-delivering two meals a day, for seven days a week (including holidays), and providing modified diets to seniors, age 60 and older, throughout San Diego County. In 2009, agency-wide, 82 staff members supported over 2,200 volunteers who donated their time to home-deliver 450,000 meals to approximately 2,000 seniors throughout San Diego County. Debbie Case is the CEO and President of Meals-on-Wheels Greater San Diego.^[15]

Another California Meals On Wheels program is Meals On Wheels West (MOWW), which has been delivering services to home-bound individuals in their homes since April of 1974. The agency has since grown from an organization that served 8 clients in one city to one that provides meals and companionship to 396 individuals in 6 of Los Angeles County’s coastal communities by 2010. In 2010 alone, over 3,000 volunteers delivered more than 86,000 meals. Begun as a program of the Westside Ecumenical Conference, MOWW attained its own non-profit status in 1994. The CEO since 1987, RoseMary Regalbuto’s, first challenge upon arrival at MOWW was to eliminate the waiting list by increasing the number of routes and clients served. Since then, no eligible clients have been made to wait for services. When Mrs. Regalbuto took the helm, MOWW was only serving Santa Monica. Due to her leadership, the agency now serves Santa Monica, Topanga, Pacific Palisades, Malibu, and parts of Marina Del Rey. In 2010, 93% of MOWW clients stated that MOWW was a major factor in their ability to remain in their own homes. 88% of clients reported that the daily contact with Meals On Wheels West volunteers was important to them, and 50% stated the volunteers were the only visitors during the day. 70% of volunteers stay with the organization for more than 5 years, which allows for significant lasting connections with clients. ^[16]

Canada (1965)

Calgary: Meals on Wheels was formed in response to a plea from the Hospital Chaplaincy Committee of the Calgary Presbytery of the United Church. In 1965, a study was undertaken by the Presbyterian United Church Women into the needs of the elderly living alone and those being discharged from hospitals with no help available during their convalescence. On November 30, 1965 the Calgary Church Women's Community Care was incorporated and in 1976 the name was officially changed to "Calgary Meals on Wheels". In addition to the United Church, the Anglican, Baptist, Catholic and Presbyterian Churches supported the movement while interested volunteers and service clubs answered the call for help and proved to be the backbone of the fledgling organization. The United Way and the City of Calgary have also played a vital role in the success of this community service. On November 15, 1965 the first meal service started serving eight clients. By 1982 the number of clients had increased to in excess of 380 per day, requiring a move to a larger centre. In 2005, Calgary Meals on Wheels celebrated its 40th Anniversary, (having never missed a meal delivery in its 40 year history), and delivered to some 1900 clients, plus services to several unique programmes. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors, all of whom are volunteers. A pool of some 750 volunteers donate just under 75,000 hours of time a year to deliver meals five days a week within Calgary city limits.^[17]

Halifax: Meals on Wheels began in Nova Scotia in 1969, with three volunteers delivering six meals in Halifax.^[18]

Vancouver: Since 1967, the Health and Home Care Society of BC has operated the Meals on Wheels program in Vancouver and Richmond.^[19]

Winnipeg: Meals on Wheels was originally created as a side project of The Home Welfare Association. A 1961 study recommended the establishment of a Meals on Wheels delivery service for people who were unable to prepare meals for themselves, such as the elderly and infirm. A three year pilot project was started and they delivered the first meals on June 30, 1965. In 1981 the Home Welfare Association chapter was officially closed when the name was changed to Meals on Wheels of Winnipeg, Inc.^[20]

Edmonton: The first meals were delivered on April 21, 1969 for a fee of $0.65 each. There was one route on the south side with a total of three meals. Today, over 140,000 meals are prepared for clients each year. Edmonton Meals on Wheels not only prepares hot and frozen meals, but also provides grocery delivery, nutrition workshops and lunch time catering. [1]

Modern programs

Today, Meals on Wheels programs generally operate at the county level or smaller. Programs vary widely in their size, service provided, organisation and funding.

There are active Meals on Wheels programs in Australia,^[21] Canada,^[22][23] the United Kingdom and the United States. The National Association of Care Catering^[24] are a great source of information on UK Meals on Wheels services. The Meals On Wheels Association of America (MOWAA)^[25] is a national association for senior nutrition programs headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia, but each program operates independently.

Most Meals on Wheels programs deliver meals hot and ready-to-eat, but some deliver cold meals in containers ready to microwave. Others supply deep-frozen meals. Some warm-meal programs provide an additional frozen meal during the days prior to a weekend or holiday (when there would be no delivery). Depending on the program, meals may be delivered by paid drivers or by volunteers. In addition to providing nutrition to sustain the health of a client, a meal delivery by a Meals on Wheels driver or volunteer also serves as a safety check and a source of companionship for the client.

Most clients of Meals on Wheels programs are elderly, but others who are unable to shop or cook for themselves (as well as their pets) are generally eligible for assistance. In the United States, programs receiving federal funding may not serve people less than 60 years old. US Federally funded programs may only request voluntary contributions from clients, while other programs often charge a moderate fee for service. Regardless of their sources of funding, eligibility for most programs is determined solely by medical need, with financial need and actual ability to pay not making a difference either way.

United Kingdom

In the county of Suffolk, the program is referred to as "Community Meals".^[26] "Meals on Wheels" services are provided for those who have been assessed to have difficulty cooking for themselves. Community Meals services can comprise daily hot meals, chilled meals or a weekly or fortnightly delivery of frozen meals. Traditional hot deliveries are cooked in a central kitchen then transported to the service user.

Support to the elderly is also provided by WRVS (formerly named Women’s Royal Voluntary Service).

National Association of Care Catering Community Meals Week is a national event aiming to increase visibility of Community Meals Services.^[27] In October 2008, Camilla, The Duchess of Cornwall assisted in Meals on Wheels Week activities.^[28]

Increasingly in the UK, commercial (rather than voluntary or government) organisations are being incorporated into the provision of meals. For example, some Local Authorities have stopped providing hot meals, and are instead delivering frozen pre-cooked meals.^[29] Other variations include using Apetito, who operate a "Chefmobil"^[30] service which regenerates meals en route,^[31] Apetito subsidiary Wiltshire Farm Foods, which operates a Meals on Wheels alternative service for those who do not meet assessment criteria,^[32] and Oakhouse Foods, who offer a similar service.

Canada

Halifax Meals on Wheels in Nova Scotia currently operate 68 programmes across the province; more than 600 volunteers serve an estimated 3400 meals a week. In Halifax, the service is partially funded by the municipality. The United Way also provides funding, depending on how much the programmes need. Organizations such as nursing homes and hospitals provide many of the meals; others come from restaurants and private homes. The programme isn't just for the elderly; people of any age who live alone often call when they're recovering after a recent hospital stay and are unable to cook for themselves. Other users of Meals on Wheels are people with disabilities such as multiple sclerosis who use the programme to help them through a rough time when cooking becomes too difficult. In 1996, 56.7% of clients in Halifax used the service for less than three months.^[18]

There are dozens of independent meals on wheels in Montreal, one of the largest and most innovative is the unique intergenerational Santropol Roulant, an organization operated mainly by young volunteers in central Montreal neighbourhoods. Deliveries are done on foot, by bicycle and by hybrid car in some outlying routes.^[33]

A Vancouver organization that specializes in providing meals on wheels service to people living with HIV/AIDS is A Loving Spoonful.

United States

The Meals on Wheels Association of America (MOWAA) is headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia and headed by President and CEO Enid Borden. MOWAA is the oldest and largest organization in the United States representing those who provide meal services to seniors in need, specifically those at risk of or experiencing hunger. MOWAA is a non-profit organization working toward the social, physical, nutritional, and economic betterment of vulnerable Americans by providing the tools and information its programs need to make a difference in the lives of others.^[25]

Citymeals-on-Wheels^[34] serves the New York City area. In 2008, Citymeals delivered over 2.1 million nutritious meals to 17,713 frail aged in every borough of New York City. In addition, over 1,500 volunteers collectively spent 62,000 hours visiting and delivering meals to New York’s frail aged. Gael Greene and James Beard founded Citymeals-on-Wheels in 1981 after reading a newspaper article about homebound elderly New Yorkers with nothing to eat on weekends and holidays. They rallied their friends in the restaurant community, raising private funds as a supplement to the government-funded weekday meal delivery program. Twenty five years ago their first efforts brought a Christmas meal to 6,000 frail aged.

In 2007, the MOWAA Foundation commissioned a study on hunger (see next section). In 2009, MOWAA partnered with The Mission Continues,^[35] an organization which addresses the needs of veterans who have served the United States.

Specialty Meals on Wheels programs, such as "Kosher Meals on Wheels", also exist to service niche clientele.^{[citation needed]}

MOWAAF study on hunger

The Meals On Wheels Association of America Foundation (MOWAAF),^[36] recognizing that hunger is a serious threat facing millions of seniors in the United States, determined that understanding of the problem is a critical first step to developing remedies.^[37] In 2007, MOWAAF, underwritten by the Harrah's Foundation, commissioned a research study entitled The Causes, Consequences and Future of Senior Hunger in America.^[38] The report was released at a hearing of the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging in March 2008 in Washington, D.C.

The study found that in the United States, over 5 million seniors, (11.4% of all seniors), experience some form of food insecurity (i.e., were marginally food insecure). Of these, about 2.5 million are at-risk of hunger, and about 750,000 suffer from hunger due to financial constraints. Some groups of seniors are more likely to be at-risk of hunger. Relative to their representation in the overall senior population, those with limited incomes, under age 70, African-Americans, Hispanics, never-married individuals, renters, and persons living in the Southern United States are all more likely to be at-risk of hunger. While certain groups of seniors are at greater-risk of hunger, hunger cuts across the income spectrum. For example, over 50% of all seniors who are at-risk of hunger have incomes above the poverty threshold. Likewise, it is present in all demographic groups. For example, over two-thirds of seniors at-risk of hunger are caucasian. There are marked differences in the risk of hunger across family structure, especially for those seniors living alone, or those living with a grandchild. Those living alone are twice as likely to experience hunger compared to married seniors. One in five senior households with a grandchild (but no adult child) present is at-risk of hunger, compared to about one in twenty households without a grandchild present. Seniors living in non-metropolitan areas are as likely to experience food insecurity as those living in metropolitan areas, suggesting that food insecurity cuts across the urban-rural continuum.^[39]

References

1. ^ ^{a b} History, UK Meals on Wheels. Retrieved 2008-10-10.
2. ^ ^{a b c d} Meals on Wheels: History and general information, NSW Meals on Wheels Association Inc. Retrieved 2008-10-09.
3. ^ ^{a b} The History of Meals on Wheels in the U.S., Meals On Wheels Association of America (MOWAA). Retrieved 2008-10-10.
4. ^ "Modernisation of the Community Meals Service", Walsall Council, UK. Retrieved 2009-02-02.
5. ^ Greg Crafter, Taylor, Doris Irene (1901 - 1968), Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 16, Melbourne University Press, 2002, pp 364-365.
6. ^ Prepared in a Nissen hut donated by the Le Messurier family, the meals were cooked and delivered by 11 volunteer helpers, an example since followed by thousands of caring, community-minded South Australians throughout the State. Doris Taylor was an inspiration to many; paralysed from the age of 11 after a childhood accident, she spent her life using a wheelchair. Doris had the vision to imagine volunteers supporting housebound members of their community by home-delivering a nourishing meal, and the determination and passion to make it happen. For the 15 years from the birth of Meals on Wheels in South Australia to her death in 1968, Doris Taylor remained the inspiration and the driving force behind the organisation. Today, Doris’s dream of helping the elderly, housebound and disabled remain at home a long as possible has grown into a team of 10,000 volunteers who prepare, drive and deliver meals to 5,000 clients across South Australia. For more information about Meals on Wheels in South Australian, visit http://www.mealsonwheelssa.org.au
7. ^ Cudmore M., 1996, A Meal a Day, South Australia, Gillingham Printers
8. ^ Meals on Wheels Oral History, City of Sydney. Retrieved 2008-10-10.
9. ^ History, Queensland Meals on Wheels. Retrieved 2008-10-10.
10. ^ History, Joomla Meals on Wheels, Retrieved 2008-10-10.
11. ^ History, South Australian Meals on Wheels, Retrieved 2008-10-10.
12. ^ History, Port Lincoln Meals on Wheels. Retrieved 2008-10-10.
13. ^ Meals on Wheels, SA Memory, State Library of South Australia. Retrieved 2008-10-10.
14. ^ History, Victorian Meals on Wheels. Retrieved 2008-10-10.
15. ^ Meals-on-Wheels San Diego. Retrieved 2010-03-25.
16. ^ Meals On Wheels West.
17. ^ More information about Calgary Meals on Wheels can be found at "Welcome to Calgary Meals on Wheels"
18. ^ ^{a b} Halifax Meals on Wheels, Retrieved 2008-11-16.
19. ^ Health and Home Care Society of B.C., Canada.
20. ^ The Early Years: Meals as a Side Project, Meals on Wheels of Winnipeg, Retrieved 2008-10-10.
21. ^ Main Australian Meals on Wheels site, Retrieved 2008-10-10.
22. ^ Canadian Meals on Wheels and Senior Meal Programmes, Retrieved 2008-10-10.
23. ^ Meals on Wheels of Winnipeg, Retrieved 2008-10-10.
24. ^ The U.K. National Association of Care Catering, Retrieved 2008-10-10.
25. ^ ^{a b} The Meals On Wheels Association of America (MOWAA), Retrieved 2008-10-10.
26. ^ Community Meals, Suffolk County Council, UK.
27. ^ Community Meals on Wheels Week, National Association of Care Catering.
28. ^ The Duchess delivers meals on wheels to an elderly Ballater resident, 6th October 2008, princeofwales.gov.uk
29. ^ Ian Mason Meals on wheels changes hard to swallow, 18 July 2008, Richmond and Twickenham Times. richmondandtwickenhamtimes.co.uk. Retrieved on 2009-07-07.
30. ^ "Chefmobil", apetito.com
31. ^ Meals On Wheels - Hot Provision, apetito.com
32. ^ How Wiltshire Farm Foods differs from Meals on Wheels, wiltshirefarmfoods.com
33. ^ Santropol Roulant Official Website
34. ^ Citymeals-on-Wheels, New York. Retrieved 2010-03-25.
35. ^ About Us, The Mission Continues. Retrieved 2009-05-27.
36. ^ Meals On Wheels Association of America Foundation (MOWAAF)
37. ^ Understanding Senior Hunger, Meals On Wheels Association of America, www.mowaa.org
38. ^ Ziliak, Gundersen and Haist. (2007) The Causes, Consequences and Future of Senior Hunger in America, University of Kentucky Center for Poverty and Research, Lexington, KY. (88pages. 2MB.)
39. ^ Excerpt from "The Causes, Consequences and Future of Senior Hunger in America", Executive Summary, pp.i-ii